Rui Fish: Characteristics, Feeding, Breeding & Full Information

The Rui fish is a species of freshwater fish of the carp family. It is found mainly in rivers in South Asia. It is known by many different names such as rohu, rohit or roho. It is the most important among the 3 Indian major carp fish species used in polyculture systems.

Rui fish is highly available throughout northern and central India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. It has also been introduced in many other countries, including, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and some countries of Africa. The traditional culture of this carp fish goes back hundreds of years in the small ponds of the eastern Indian states, and Bangladesh.

The compatibility of Rui fish with other carps like Catla and Mrigal made it an ideal candidate for carp polyculture system. Emphasis has been given to it’s genetic improvement through selective breeding in India, considering it’s importance in the culture system. Read some more information about this fish below.

Characteristics

The Rui fish are large in size with typical cyprinid shape and a conspicuously arched head. Their body is covered with cycloid scales, and the head is without scale.

Their mouth is small and inferior, the lips are thick and fringed with a distinct inner fold to each lip. They have 3 or 4 simple dorsal fin, and 12 to 14 branched dorsal fin rays. They are generally of bluish color on back, silvery on flanks and belly.

Adult Rui fish can reach a length of up to 2 meters, and can weight up to 45 kg.

Feeding

The Rui fish is an omnivore with specific food preferences at different stages of life. It eats mainly zooplankton during the early stages of it’s life-cycle. But it eats more and more phytoplankton as it grows.

And the juvenile or adult is a herbivorous column feeder, eating mainly phytoplankton and submerged vegetation. It has modified, thin hair-like gill rakers, suggesting that it feeds by sieving the water. Commercial fish feeds are good for this fish species.

Breeding

The Rui fish generally reach maturity withing their 2-5 years of age. The female fish generally spawn during the monsoon season, keeping to the middle of flooded rivers above tidal reach.

The spawning season of this fish generally coincides with the southwest monsoon. Spawn may be collected from rivers and reared in tanks and lakes. Artificial breeding is also possible for this fish.

Uses

The Rui fish is mainly raised and used for food. It is a very tasty fish and has great market demand.

Special Notes

The Rui fish is a very important aquacultured freshwater fish species in South Asia. It doesn’t breed in lake ecosystems, when cultured. So induced spawning is necessary. Generally it inhabits the freshwater section of rivers. Along with being used for food, the Rui fish is also prized as a game fish.

Rui fish is generally eaten in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indian States of Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. However, review full breed profile of the Rui fish in the chart below.