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small carpgrass
Scientific Name: Arthraxon hispidus
Family: Poaceae
Category: Monocot
Growth: Graminoid
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
The grass carp, also known as the white amur, is a herbivorous freshwater fish frequently introduced to waterways for aquatic weed control. It's a popular choice for managing vegetation in small ponds and lakes.
Considerations for Pets
- Grass carp are commonly kept in garden ponds, potentially cohabitating with other fish like koi and goldfish.
- Juveniles and smaller grass carp are vulnerable to predation by larger fish.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Ctenopharyngodon idella
- Common Names: Grass carp, white amur, Asian grass carp (sometimes used for Mrigal carp, Cirrhinus cirrhosus)
- Order: Cypriniformes
- Family: Cyprinidae (Minnow family)
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to Japan and eastern Asia.
- Now found in locations ranging from Cornwall to Scotland, and stocked in lakes in France.
- Thrives in small lakes, backwaters, and ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation.
Ecological Role
- Used for aquatic plant control, especially in small, privately owned ponds and lakes without inlets or outlets.
- Triploid (sterile) grass carp are often used to prevent uncontrolled reproduction.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Has a long, slender, cylindrical body, almost torpedo-shaped, with a low, flat head.
- Possesses a small, upturned mouth with thin lips and no barbules.
- Can grow up to a metre in length.
- Silver to olive-colored.
Diet and Interactions
- Primarily herbivorous, preferring water weeds and thin-leaved pond weeds.
- Young grass carp eat small invertebrates and microcrustaceans.
- Prefers soft, low-fiber aquatic weeds, such as duckweeds and filamentous algae, when small.
- May consume less preferred vegetation at high stocking densities.
Quirky Facts
- Grass carp can make spectacular jumps when frightened or confined.
- Anglers have reported catching grass carp weighing over 50 lbs.
Further Information
- Status of permits for grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) stocking in the southern United States.
- Aquatic Plant Control in SC Small Impoundments.
- Stocking Triploid Grass Carp to Control Aquatic Vegetation in New York Waters.
- Growth data for grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, in managed small impoundments