Grass Carp
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Name and Code
Family
Xenocyprididae - sharpbellies
Species
Ctenopharyngodon idella
Taxonomic Authority
(Valenciennes 1844)
Common Name(s)
Grass Carp
French Name
carpe de roseau
Species Code
219
Family TSN
163342
Parent TSN
163536
Species TSN
163537
Conservation Status
Global Rank (GRank)
G5 (1996-09-13)
National Rank (NRank)
NNA (2017-12-22)
Provincial Rank (SRank)
SNA (1997-10-02)
COSEWIC Status
none
SARO Status
none
AFS Status
none
Status Notes
none
Ecological Value
Ontario Origin
introduced
General Abundance
rare
Tolerance
tolerant
Economic Importance
invasive species
Length-Weight Regression Coefficents
Intercept (a)
-4.59
Slope (b)
2.87
Length Basis
TL
Habitat and Feeding
General Habitat(s)
lacustrine; riverine
Environment
benthic
Trophic Class
herbivore
Thermal Regime
warmwater
Habitat Preference
lakes, ponds, pools, reservoirs and backwaters of large rivers at depths of 1-3 m; preferred water temperature 25.3°C
Reproduction
Reproductive Guild
Nonguarders: Open substratum spawners: Pelagophils
Spawning Habitat(s)
riverine
Spawning Season
spring
Spawning Month(s)
May-June
Spawning Temperature (°C)
18-24
Fecundity
255,000-1,276,000
Nursery Habitat(s)
riverine
Size and Age
Adult Length (cm)
51-86 TL
Adult Weight (kg)
1.5-6.8
Age at Maturity (yrs)
4-5
Maximum Length (cm)
145 TL
Maximum Weight (kg)
40.5
Lifespan (yrs)
11-21
Ontario Records
Record Length (cm)
116 TL
Record Weight (kg)
20.996
Ontario Range Map
Grass Carp range
Ontario Distribution
southern Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Grand River, Niagara River, Lake Ontario (Toronto Islands, Jordan Harbour, Bay of Quinte); first reported from Ontario waters in 1985
Photographs
Grass Carp photograph
Grass Carp photograph
Notes
indigenous to eastern Asia; expanding range from United States introductions; tolerant of wide water temperature range (0-33°C) and low dissolved oxygen (0.2 mg/L); use as bait prohibited
Information Sources
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