Growth testing of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (Hungarian mirror and Třeboň scaly carp), in ponds with low and high stocking density

The growth of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was tested in ponds under the climatic conditions of South Bohemia. T?eboň scaly carp (TR) and Hungarian mirror carp (M2) were kept in both low and high stocking densities during the second growing season and then stocked together for communal testing during the third growing season. Before the communal testing, the mean initial weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks differed significantly (374.1 vs. 227.7 g for the TR breed and 766.7 vs. 317.3 g for the M2 breed respectively, P<0.01). After communal testing, mean weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks gained 761.8 vs. 543.8 g for the TR breed and 1339.7 vs. 706.7 g for the M2 breed respectively. These observed weights were also significantly different (P<0.01). However, the test of corrected weight gain, i.e. gain not related to the initial weight of fish, revealed insignificant differences (P>0.01) between the weight gains after correction, i.e. the effect of different initial weights was successfully eliminated. These results seem to confirm the applicability of this method for the assessment of growth of purebred common carp under the climatic conditions of Central European fish farms.