Chinese Sucker( Myxocyprinus asiaticus)

Habitat: live in lakes or rivers. The young and the adult have different shapes, as well as different habitats and biological habits. Young fish likes to gather in-between marbles stones, where the water is slow or stay in the upper level of water; larger young fish will stay in the middle level. Adult fish likes to act in broad water surface and their action is quick and nimble.

Feeding habits: mainly feeds on invertebrates, larva of insects, organic substance in the bottom of water; and it also eats diatom and vegetation pieces on rocks in the bottom of water.

Features: its body is high and its sides are flat, which look like a square. Its head is sharp and short, and its mouth is small. Its lips are fat and thick, which turn upward like a sucker. The fins on its back are tall and long. In the middle of adult fish, there is a wide red perpendicular stripe; the color of male fish is quite bright, while the color of female fish is rather dull. Chinese sucker normally lays its eggs in rushing shoals where the water is clear, with more oxygen, and where the water level and temperature is more constant. It lays its eggs from March to April. Its eggs are light yellow and can stick to marbles in the bottom stones or water grass. The hatching temperature is between 16 and 18 centigrade. If the water temperature is appropriate, the eggs can be hatched within 7-8 days. Chinese suckers have the following features: larger size, grows quickly, and with thick and delicious flesh. It has a docile character and is full of vitality. It likes many kinds of food and is an ideal fish for fish farming. Its young are kind of fancy fish.

Category: Pisces, Cypriniformes, Myxocyprinidae。

Distribution: Yangzi River and Jinsha River area.

Protection level: it has been listed as class II state protection animal.