Grass Carp - Ctenopharyngodon idella

Description

The Grass carp has an elongated, chubby, torpedo-shaped body. The mouth has non-fleshy, firm lips, and no barbels. It is a large, fast growing species with the British record being a fish weighing over 50 pounds.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

This species occurs in lakes, ponds, pools, and backwaters of large rivers, preferring large, slow-flowing or standing water bodies with vegetation.

When to see it

All year round but especially in summer.

Life History

They eat up to three times their own body weight daily.

UK Status

An introduced species that is already widespread in England and Wales.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland, but probably unreported from some small pools.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Chinese Grass Carp, White Amur, Grass Carp
Species group:
Fish
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Cypriniformes
Family:
Cyprinidae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
05/07/2013 (lang, steve)
Last record:
05/07/2013 (lang, steve)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records