Mrigal
Cirrhinus cirrhosus
Also known asMrigala · Naren
Water parameters
Minimum tank: 2000 L per individual at harvest size.
Feed and growth
- Feed protein
- 28% target
- Daily feed (warm)
- 1.80% of body weight
- Daily feed (cool)
- 0.60% of body weight
- Max density
- 40 g per litre
A 8000 g adult eats about 144.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~1440 g daily.
Legality
Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States (federal) | check local regulations | verified 2026-05-13 |
| New South Wales | prohibited | verified 2026-05-13 |
Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".
Origin and habitat
Native to rivers and floodplain lakes of the Indian subcontinent: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Myanmar. The species (Cirrhinus mrigala, sometimes listed as C. cirrhosus) is one of the three major Indian carps, along with catla and rohu. Mrigal is a bottom-feeder that consumes decayed organic matter, algae, and detritus from the substrate surface. In the traditional Indian carp polyculture system, mrigal occupies the bottom-feeding niche while catla feeds at the surface and rohu in the midwater column. Adults reach 1 m and up to 12 kg in the wild; culture harvest size is typically 0.5–2 kg at 12-18 months. India produces millions of tonnes of Indian major carps annually, with mrigal comprising a substantial portion. The flesh is white, soft, and bony, consumed widely across South Asia.
Climate and outdoor ponds
- Climate
- tropical (needs warm water year-round)
- USDA zones
- 9–13 (winter low around -7°C or warmer)
- Heating needed
- yes
- Cooling needed
- no
Care notes
A warm-water bottom-feeding species for polyculture aquaponics, primarily relevant in South Asian contexts where the three-species Indian carp polyculture is the standard production method. Temperature range: 18–35°C, optimal at 25–32°C. Growth in polyculture ponds: 0.5–1.5 kg in 12-18 months. On commercial carp pellet (25-32% protein), FCR is 1.5-2.5. As a bottom-feeder, mrigal consumes detritus, uneaten feed, and benthic organisms that settle on the tank or pond floor, complementing surface-feeding catla and midwater-feeding rohu in a three-tier polyculture that maximizes total system productivity. Stocking in polyculture: 20-30% mrigal (bottom), 40-50% rohu (midwater), 20-30% catla (surface). In monoculture, stocking density is 10-20 g/L. Mrigal tolerate moderate water quality variations but prefer well-oxygenated water (DO above 4 mg/L) compared to the more tolerant common carp. They're hardy and disease-resistant under normal conditions. Fingerlings are abundantly available from government hatcheries and private breeders across India and Bangladesh at very low cost. The species is not commonly cultured outside the Indian subcontinent, partly because the soft, bony flesh doesn't match Western market preferences for boneless fillets. For South Asian aquaponics operations, mrigal fills an essential bottom-feeding ecological niche in polyculture and is a culturally accepted, affordable food fish with strong domestic market demand.