Mirror Carp Natural History
Size
These are very large fish which can weigh up to 60 pounds and can reach lengths of 1.2m.
Habitat and Distribution
These fish can be found in freshwater lakes and rivers around all of Europe, especially in Britain.
Age
In the wild it is thought to live for 12 to 20 years however captive Mirror Carp have been recorded reaching ages of almost 50 years.
Diet
The majority of their diet is made up of aquatic insects and the larvae of insects who deposit their eggs/ larvae in water. They will also eat to some degree of water growing weeds.
Groups and Breeding
In order to breed these fish need to be subjected to natural seasons allowing their biological clocks to tell them when it is time to spawn. Due to this they are extremely difficult to breed in captivity especially by people attempting to breed them in aquaria.
Threats
These fish are not greatly threatened with a large number of their population living in controlled fishing lakes where caught fish are released again after weighing.
Interesting Facts
The Mirror Carp is the first recorded mutation in the Common Carp.
The Mirror Carp During Your Day Out in Kent
The Mirror Carp at Wingham Wildlife Park live in our large lake next to the tapirs and in the smaller lake at the entrance of the park. They often swim to the surface when visitors use our dispensers to feed them along with Leather Carp and Ghost Carp.