Key Facts
Family:
Cyprinid
The grass carp is a large, herbivorous, freshwater fish species of the family Cyprinidae native to eastern Asia, with an original range from northern Vietnam to the Amur River on the Siberia-China border.
TheĀ grass carpĀ (Ctenopharyngodon idella) is the species of fish with the largest reported production inĀ aquacultureĀ globally, over five million tonnes per year. It is a largeĀ herbivorousĀ freshwater fishĀ species of the familyĀ CyprinidĀ native to eastern Asia, with a native range from northernĀ VietnamĀ to theĀ Amur RiverĀ on theĀ Siberia-China border.Ā The Grass carp is the only species of the genusĀ Ctenopharyngodon.
This species occurs in lakes, ponds, pools, and backwaters of large rivers, preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation.
Adults of the species feed primarily on aquatic plants. They feed on higher aquatic plants and submerged terrestrial vegetation, but may also takeĀ detritus,Ā insects, and otherĀ invertebrates.
