Mirror Carp

Overview

Everything you need to know about Mirror Carp, at a glance:

• Common Names: Israeli Carp
• Scientific Name: Cyprinus carpio
• Max Size: ~100cm
• Temperature Range: 15-25°C, though can survive temperatures close to freezing
• pH Range: 7.0-8.5
• Compatibility: Peaceful, but need to be kept in large ponds
• Area Of Origin: Eurasia
• Suitable Foods: Variety of sticks, pellets, and flakes.
• Special Requirements: Grow very quickly and need to be kept in large ponds.

What is a Mirror Carp?

Mirror Carp are a variety of Common Carp, known for their reflective, ‘mirror-like’ scales. It’s these scales that give the Mirror Carp its name and make it a popular choice of fish amongst pond keepers. Like other varieties of Carp, they grow big (max sizes ~100cm) and can live for several decades if given the proper care.

Unlike Common Carp, Mirror Carp aren’t fish that are found naturally in the wild. Instead, they’re a genetically mutated form of Common Carp that have been selectively bred for their pearlescent scales. Mirror Carp also tend to have more rounded bodies than Common Carp and, as a result, are slower swimmers.

While they’re known for their mirror-like scales, most Mirror Carp aren’t covered in an orderly pattern of scales like Common Carp. Instead, they have rows of unevenly-shaped scales – some large, some small – and several patches of bare skin. This gives them a mottled appearance that some pond keepers love.

How do I care for Mirror Carp?

Like other forms of Carp, Mirror Carp are renowned for their hardiness and can be kept in a wide range of aquatic settings. They do require a degree of specialist care, though as long as you’re ready to provide this then they’re a great choice of fish for a garden pond – even if you’re a first-time pond keeper!

An important thing to consider if you’re planning on keeping Mirror Carp is space. As youngsters they may not need quite as much space, but as adults they need a pond that can hold thousands of litres of water. As a rule of thumb, aim to keep one Mirror Carp for every 1,000L of water.

Another important thing to consider is filtration. Mirror Carp eat a lot of food and, as a result, produce a lot of waste. To process this waste and make sure your pond is kept healthy, you’ll need a large pond filter. We stock a wide range of pond filters, but the best for these kinds of fish are Koi pond filters. For more information about Koi pond filters and how they work, check out our help guide here.

As large pond fish, Mirror Carp consume a lot of oxygen and therefore need to be kept in a garden pond where oxygen is readily available. To increase the amount of oxygen in your pond, create a waterfall, install a pond fountain, or run a powerful air pump. All of these methods will introduce additional oxygen to your pond and, in doing so, keep your Mirror Carp healthy and happy.

Mirror Carp aren’t fussy when it comes to food and will readily accept a variety of sticks, pellets, and flakes. They can also be fed specialist Koi foods to help enhance their growth and/or colours. It’s important to note that Mirror Carp are omnivorous and therefore need a balanced diet that includes both plant matter and foodstuffs high in protein.

Something to look out for when keeping Mirror Carp is their tendency to disturb the substrate of your pond. If you keep a lot of fine-rooted, emergent plants, then Mirror Carp aren’t exactly a suitable choice of fish. If you want to keep Mirror Carp and stunning pond plants, consider planting them alongst the shallow margins of your pond where they’re less likely to be uprooted.

How is this Mirror Carp delivered?

All of our aquatic animals are dispatched from our livestock distributor and delivered directly to your doorstep. Our distributor dispatches and delivers livestock packages Tuesday through Friday to avoid animals being in transit over the weekend. To further minimise time spent travelling, all livestock deliveries are made before 1pm on the day of delivery.

After placing your livestock order, you’ll receive all the information needed to track your livestock order via email. If you have any problems regarding delivery, or concerns about the health/wellbeing of your animal(s) upon arrival, please contact us, Swell UK Ltd, immediately, or at least within 48 hours of receiving your livestock order.

Any other, non-livestock items that you purchase alongside livestock will be sent via standard or express delivery and arrive at your delivery address in a different package. This means that, depending on when you place your order, you may receive your non-livestock items before or after your livestock package.

For a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your livestock package depending on the day you placed your order, be sure to check the delivery details in the specifications below.

How do you acclimate a Mirror Carp to a pond?

It’s very important that you acclimatise new fish to your pond. This is the process of gradually adjusting an animal to its new environment and it’s especially important in an aquatic setting where sudden changes in water temperature, pH, and nitrates can cause stress, illness and, in some cases, even death.

To acclimatise your Mirror Carp, add it to a large, dimly lit container and add a small amount of pond water every few minutes. Do this until water temperatures in this container match water temperatures in your pond, and for at least 20 minutes. If you don’t have a large container to hand, you can float the bag containing your fish in your pond instead.

You should always set up your pond and make sure it’s ready for fish prior to purchasing any. It’s also a good idea to let your pond filter mature for a few months before adding Mirror Carp. A single Mirror Carp can produce a lot of mess; your pond filter needs to be able to handle this if it’s to maintain a healthy environment.

Above photos are for illustration purposes only; livestock received may not exactly match those photographed.