Life-Stage Comparison: Protein requirements drop as fish move from fry/fingerling stage to grow-out (adult growth) stage — rank the given ranges by life stage.
Grow-out carp need only MODERATE protein (20–25%) since growth has slowed compared to fry stage, keeping feed cost efficient without sacrificing growth.
15–20% is too low for healthy growth, while 30–35% and 40–45% match higher-protein needs of carnivorous species or very young fry, not grow-out carp.