ABSTRACT

The aim of this study carried out between March 2003–February 2004 was to determine the effects of parasites on the growth of the crucian carp (Carassius carassius L., 1758) inhabiting the Kovada Lake. A total of 102 specimens were caught monthly and investigated parasitologically. The age distribution of these fish were found to be between 3-7 years and 54 (52.9%) were infected by the various parasites. Investigations of fish that were caught during the same month of the same sex and of the same age revealed that infected fish were both shorter and lighter than uninfected ones, 7.7% and 9.3% respectively.

Keywords: Kovada Lake, Crucian carp, Carassius carassius, Growth, Parasite