Fathead fish and silver carp are two common freshwater fish, and they are different in appearance, living habits, and physique.
Here are the differences between them:
1.Differences in appearance: Fathead fish are shorter, with a slightly oval body, larger scales, grayish-brown with a bluish tint, a wide head, a larger mouth, and many teeth. The silver carp has a long, elongated, streamlined body with smaller scales and a silvery-gray color, a relatively small head, a smaller mouth, and a small number of teeth.
2.Differences in living habits: Fathead fish is a carnivorous fish, mainly feeding on live animals such as small fish and shrimp, and is the apex predator in freshwater. They can also devour other fish that are several times larger than themselves, including their own species. Silver carp, on the other hand, is an omnivorous fish that feeds on algae, molluscs and small benthic animals.
3.Difference in growth rate: Fathead fish grow faster, reaching a weight of 1 kg in just one year, and the body length can reach more than 40 cm. Whereas, silver carp grows slowly and takes 3-5 years to reach the same weight.
4.Physical differences: The meat of fathead fish is fat, the meat contains more oil, and the taste is rich. The flesh of silver carp is delicate and has a light taste.
In general, there are great differences between fathead fish and silver carp in three aspects: morphology, ecology and physique, and their respective characteristics and adaptation environment are also different. So, when choosing fish as an ingredient, you should choose different fish according to your taste and needs.