Data sheet grass carp
Latin name:
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Trade name:
grass carp
order name:
Common carp (Cypriniformes)
Family:
Xenocyprididae
Genus:
Ctenopharyngodon
Origin:
China
Size (in cm:
80 to 120 cm
pond size
Length and width (cm):
4 meters long, 2 meters wide
Content in litres:
10,000 liters
water values
Temperature:
22 and 26 °C
pH:
6 to 8, optimally around 7
GH:
8 and 12 dH
CH:
from 4°
behavior/stocking
Area:
in open water
Lining:
Filamentous algae, aquatic plants, duckweed, duckweed, tomentosum, waterweed, lettuce and grass
Behave:
school fish
Number:
1 to 2
Life expectancy:
20 years
socialization:
Yes
Difficulty level:
Advanced Engbretson, Eric, Grass Carp, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons
Key data on the grass carp
The Ctenopharyngodon idella is also known under the names white Amur, grass fish or Chinese carp and belongs to the genus Ctenopharyngodon. The grass carp has been considered in China for centuries lucky fish known. There he lives mainly in rivers and lakes.
The natural stocks can no longer be identified today, as the grass carp has been artificially introduced into many water bodies by humans. In Europe and America he was mainly used for control of aquatic plants used due to its ability to eat large quantities of plants.
The fish feel most comfortable at water temperatures around 22 to 26 degrees Celsius. When the temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the fish goes into hibernation. Then he stays on the ground and hardly eats.
In order for the carp to overwinter, the pond must be deep enough. A pond with fish must never freeze completely. The required depth varies by region. In Germany, however, the depth is at least 100 cm.
In general, however, carp like it warm, so it makes sense to heat the pond in winter. The grass carp can tolerate the lower temperatures, but they don’t feel particularly well.
Striking is that elongated body with the blunt snout and the large muzzle without barbels. The fish is slightly rounded on the construction side. The scales are iridescent and quite large. They also have a dark border.
The color of the carp is predominant dark green. Hence the name grass fish or grass carp. The sides and belly are noticeably lighter than the back.
gender differences
The sexes are difficult to distinguish visually. Often they are male shinier and something smaller than the females, which seem rather inconspicuous. In addition, the fish become sexually mature quite late. With juvenile fish, the distinction based on the optics is not really reliable.
The breeding of grass carp
Breeding grass carp is not so easy. The animals will come along at the earliest 4 years sexually mature. In cooler regions you can sometimes wait 8 years for the fish to breed. The grass carp lay their eggs in the gravel.
For this reason, the substrate should be specially prepared. The females only lay the eggs when the water is between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius. The incubation period varies between 30 and 40 hours depending on the temperature.
rearing of the juvenile fish
The juveniles are unlike many adult specimens not pure herbivores. Your intestines are initially too short to digest plants. For this reason, the young fish mainly eat other small animals such as water fleas and insects.
When the fish are six inches tall, they switch to a plant-based diet.
socialization
Grass carp are right peaceful animals. For this reason they can be kept together with all common pond fish. However, they get along best with conspecifics.
Why are grass carp trying to jump out of the pond?
If you see the fish jumping out of the water, then this is a clear case of lack of oxygen. Carp need a lot of oxygen to breathe. When there is a lack of oxygen, the fish often jump to get air.
Sometimes they end up on dry land, which often doesn’t end well. To prevent this problem, one should have an air pump, a fountain or waterfall to install. Sometimes carp also jump to clean the gills when they have bugs.
How much feed do grass carp need?
Grass carp are gluttons. you need her own body weight of food. With such large quantities, the natural feed in the pond quickly becomes scarce. If you don’t have a huge natural pond, you have to feed it vigorously.
Soft ones are preferred aquatic plants and algae, but grass is okay too. Therefore, you should only keep two grass carp in a normal pond.