Grass Carp

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 squares = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

No additional images available for this species.

All NatureSpot records