Ctenopharyngodon idella - (Grass carp)

Family:	Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps)
Order:	Cypriniformes (carps)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Grass carp
Max. size:	150 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 30578); max. published weight: 45.0 kg (Ref. 7248); max. reported age: 21 years
Environment:	demersal; potamodromous ; depth range 0 - 30 m
Climate:	subtropical; 0 - 35°C; 65°N - 25°N
Global Importance:	fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience:	Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.13-0.19; tm=2-10; tmax=21; Fec=50,000)
Distribution:	Asia: China to eastern Siberia (Amur River system, Ref. 1441). Widely transported around the world (Ref. 7248). Introductions often brought with it the parasitic tapeworm Bothriocephalus opsarichthydis (synonym of B. acheilognathi) (Ref. 12217). Several countries report adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-11. No barbels. Snout very short, its length less than or equal to eye diameter. Postorbital length more than half head length (Ref. 4967). 18 soft rays for caudal fin (Ref. 40476).
Biology:	Occurs in lakes, ponds, pools and backwaters of large rivers (Ref. 5723), 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 (Ref. 9987). Spawns on riverbeds with very strong current (Ref. 30578). Utilized also fresh and eaten steamed, pan-fried, broiled and baked (Ref. 9987). Considered as a pest in most countries because of the damages made to submerged vegetation (Ref. 43281)
Threatened:	Not Evaluated, see IUCN Red List , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	potential pest
Coordinator:

Sri Lanka country information
Common names:	Grass carp