Doctor Fish (Garra rufa)

The Doctor Fish or Garra rufa is a freshwater fish that likes to nibble on human skin!  It is even used in spas as a skin treatment! Lucky for us this fish will eat only the dead skin, leaving the healthy skin untouched.  Doctor Fish have been used to treat multiple skin disorders, including eczema and psoriasis. You can check them out chowing down on humans in the videos below.



Also known as Kangal Fish, Nibble Fish, Little Dermatologists and Reddish Log Sucker Fish these Carp are not very large only growing to about 2-1/2" in length and have a lifespan of up to 7 years. They are found in naturally in river basins in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Doctor Fish can be kept in an aquarium and is considered to be quite hardy. They have been brought to spas in places all over the world included The United States, Japan, Cambodia & Turkey.  

If you have any additional information about the Doctor Fish please leave us a comment below.

Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

The Silver Carp or Hypophthalmichthys molitrix is one of the species of Asian Carp that is threatening to invade and devastate The Great Lakes.  The Silver Carp along with the Bighead Carp where introduced by Catfish farmers in the 1970s to help control algae.  Floods in the 1990s overflowed the ponds that kept these freshwater fish secured and they made their way into the Mississippi River basin.  They have since traveled up the Mississippi and have reproduced so much that they have even become the most abundant species in several areas!  Silver Carps also known as Flying Carp are now considered an invasive species, and should be reported to the DNR if caught anywhere near The Great Lakes.

The ravenous appetite of the Silver Carp along with its ability to reproduce quickly makes it all the more dangerous.  These fish are not small either, growing to over 4' long and weighing in at over 100lbs!  One rather strange, but even more dangerous attribute of these invasive monsters is the fact that they like to jump out of the water when a boat passes by.  This can be very bad for the fishermen and the boats alike!  Just take a look at these videos below to see the Silver Carp jumping like maniacs out of the water!


Another odd characteristic of the Silver Carp is the fact that they have no stomach!  They feed on phytoplankton, zooplankton and detritus.  As you can imagine with these fish, it is in one end and out the other!  Some think that these Carp can be use to control some forms of algae, while other worry about the side effects of introducing this species of Carp.

If you have any additional information or questions about the Silver Carp just leave us a comment.

Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

The Grass Carp or Ctenopharyngodon idella originates in Eastern Asia, but has since been introduced to The United States and Europe. These freshwater fish get their name from the fact that they can eat large quantities of underwater weeds. For this reason they are often used to control weed problems in lakes and small ponds. You can check out the Grass Carp underwater in the video below...

In The United States this fish is referred to as the White Amur where it has been introduced in many different climates. They have long bodies that are thicker than most with a dark olive coloration and a white underbelly. These fish grow very quickly almost doubling in size in just a few months when they are young! As they mature they can reach lengths of about 4' (1.2m) maximum and weight 40lbs (18kg). Considering the fact that they can only live just over 10 years, you can certainly get an idea of just how quickly these Grass Carp grow! They have impressive metabolisms that allow them to consume multiple times their body weight in just a single day! Unlike its close relative the Common Carp, Grass Carp do not have any barbels on their mouths. Grass Carps are easy to reproduce and because of their high tolerance to poor water conditions and a great variation in temperatures they are considered to be an invasive species. With their populations kept in check though they are still used in many places to control the grow of underwater vegetation. In many places in the world they are also used for food and considered to be a favorite in China.

Common Carp Or Koi

The Common Carp, Koi or Cyprinus carpio is a freshwater fish that can grow over 5' in length and weigh over 80lbs. These bottom feeders with eat almost anything including cereal, vegetables, worms, fruit and including many kinds of plant life. Fisherman around the world enjoy the Common Carp as a meal. In fact in Austria, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany, Croatia and Poland Carp is part of a traditional Christmas Eve dinner! The Koi version of this fish is brightly colored and is a favorite pet.
This type of fish will actually recognize its owner, and can be trained to feed right from your hand! Koi are known to live 40 years or more, there have even been reports of Japanese Koi living to 200 years old. The Common Carp or Koi is a very hardy fish and will easily last a long time if properly taken care of with good filtration and overall water quality.

NEXT

PREVIOUS