Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Scientific name: Ctenopharyngodon idella Valenciennes, 1844

The Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 35°C (95°F).

Grass carp care at a glance

Temperature: 35°C (95°F)

Biology

Occurs in lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of large rivers, preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation. Tolerant of a wide range of temperatures from 0? to 38?C, and salinities to as much as 10 ppt and oxygen levels down to 0.5 ppm. Feeds on higher aquatic plants and submerged grasses; takes also detritus, insects and other invertebrates. One of the world's most important aquaculture species and also used for weed control in rivers, fish ponds and reservoirs. Spawns on riverbeds with very strong current. Utilized also fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled and baked. Considered as a pest in most countries because of the damages made to submerged vegetation.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Ctenopharyngodon idella
Family: Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order: Cypriniformes (Carps)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 150
Common length: 10.7
Depth range: 0–30 m (0–98 ft)
Environment: Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous; depth range 0 - 30 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Asia: China to eastern Siberia (Amur River system, ). Widely transported around the world. Persists only in Europe by stocking. Introductions often brought with it the parasitic tapeworm Bothriocephalus opsarichthydis (synonym of B. acheilognathi). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.13-0.19; tm=2-10; tmax=21; Fec=50,000)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026