Silver carp lay eggs the same way most other fish lay their eggs.  The female will lay the eggs while the male fertilizes th

em.  For the most successful reproduction in the  silver carp some very special conditions must be met. After being laid the eggs need to stay afloat for five days at the right speed of current and right temperature before nestling on a well-oxygenated, rocky bottom.  This usually takes place in the spring and summer due to the necessary temperature range of about 18˚ – 30˚C (64˚ - 86˚F).  So although some spawning in lakes may happen occasionally it is not likely that the egg would survive, however, this is not known for sure.  After hatching the fingerlings need a place to reside for the next year in order to have ideal maturity.  There are three conditions that must be met in order for a fingerling carp to best survive in the big bad world. 

1. 1.There must be seasonal connections between the river and wetlands so spawning adults can access these wetland areas.
   

2. 2.There must be enough rainfall in order to sustain the wetland area
   

3. 3. There needs to be a timely reconnection with the river in order for the yearling carp to grow to their maturity as they would outgrow the backwaters fairly quickly. 
   

The silver carp has a very fast growing life cycle, a female carp

will become sexually mature within 2 to 3 years of hatching depending on the conditions of the environment and they can be sexually active until age 10.  This sexually mature female can lay anywhere from 1-5 million eggs in one year.  A general rule of thumb is that the larger the female the more eggs she will produce.  There is no parental care present in the reproduction cycle and it is thought that the silver carp larvae are eaten easily by other fish.  Because of this reason, this is why the ideal conditions listed above 1 through 3 are so important in the successful survival of the silver carp.  Within one year a carp can reach 1.8 – 2.3 kg (3-5lbs).

So if they are so easily eaten why is there a problem with an overabundance of silver carp?

The growth rates for the silver carp are unbelievably fast, within a short period of time the silver carp becomes too large for any natural predators.  Read size comparisons on the secrets to success page.