Grass Carp Fish Diagram
Today grass carp are stocked in many private lakes and ponds to control excess vegetation.
Grass carp fish diagram. This asian carp is the only species of the genus ctenopharyngodon. The grass carp grows very rapidly and young fish stocked in the spring at 20 centimetres 7 9 in will reach over 45 centimetres 18 in by fall and adults often attain nearly 1 2 metres 3 9 ft in length and over 18 kilograms 40 lb in weight. Carp are a family of fish native to europe and asia. They eat up to 3 times their own body weight daily.
Grass carp are a non native species that were imported into the u s. In the 1970s they were introduced to a number of lakes and ponds in florida as part of an experimental effort to control aquatic weeds particularly the exotic plant hydrilla hydrilla verticillata the goal was to use these herbivorous fish to graze down nuisance plants. The grass carp ctenopharyngodon idella 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. Here are seven tips on how to catch grass carp.
Grass carp grow very quickly an 8 inch fish stocked in spring might be 18 inches by fall which is one of the reasons they are favored by aquaculturists. The grass carp actually tends to mow plants eating them from the top down because of the way its mouth is placed. In most cases if stocked at a rate of 10 15 per acre these fish can control all of your weed problems within a year s time. Start with stocked lakes and ponds.
Freshwater fish species of the family cyprinidae. The grass carp does not tear out aquatic plants by rooting and muddying the water. Grass carp also do not prey upon invertebrates fish eggs or small fish. Used as a biological means of aquatic weed control in farm ponds and lakes.
Their normal life span is five to nine years with some populations surviving beyond 15 years. From asia in the 1960 s to control aquatic plants in reservoirs and fish farms. In some cases it is better to. Adults can reach immense sizes up to 4 5 feet long and upwards of 90 pounds although most.
The common carp cyprinus carpio has been in the us for over 100 years. It is cultivated in china for food but was introduced in europe and the united states for aquatic. Grass carp have elongated torpedo shaped body forms.