Edit Ctenopharyngodon idella
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Name
Scientific name
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Described by
Authority Valenciennes, Year 1844, Bracketed
Family
Cyprinidae
Common names
Grass Carp
Photograph credits
All 8 credited
Summary
The grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, is a large cyprinid native to the Amur River system in eastern Russia and northeastern China. Adul…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
1200mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 0–33°C, pH 6–9
Hardness
2–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Serbia, Hawaii, Amur, Danube, Erie, Huron, Ibo, Mississippi, Tungabhadra, Xi
Writing
Etymology
Ctenopharyngodon: from the Ancient Greek κτείς (kteís), meaning 'comb', φάρυξ (pháruks), meaning 'throat', and ὀδών (odṓn), meaning 'toothed', in reference to …
Distribution
This species is native to the Amur River system in eastern Russia and northeastern China plus other Pacific drainages in China with the Xi River representing i…
Habitat
Displays a preference for lowland, slower-moving sections of large rivers, plus lakes and reservoirs with abundant vegetation and relatively shallow water. It …
Aquarium size
Suitable only for outdoor ponds, public installations or the very largest, highly-specialised private aquaria.
Maintenance
A large, mature filter system, rigorous maintenance regime comprising weekly water changes of 50-70% tank volume should be considered mandatory, otherwise no s…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Primarily herbivorous, it should be offered cultivated duckweed and fresh fruit and vegetables, and adults will require considerable quantities of these. Wild …
Behaviour and compatibility
Generally peaceful and will not predate on anything more than a few centimetres in length.
Sexual dimorphism
Adult, gravid females are noticeably deeper-bodied than comparatively-aged males.
Reproduction
This species is produced on an intensive basis in aquaculture projects across the planet, although many of these efforts are aided by the artificial use of hor…
Notes
Despite being a wholly unsuitable aquarium subject, C. idella is often traded as such, with an albino form having been developed specifically for the ornamenta…
References
References
5 on this profile