The carp is a highly adaptable freshwater fish. It was once found only in Asia, but it is now common throughout much of the world. Most carp are plain colored and have greenish brown sides and blue backs. But the valued and exotic koi carp that are bred in Japan are brilliantly colored in contrast to their common carp relatives.

Habitat: Carp live mainly in large rivers, although they can also be found in most fresh waterways. They prefer shallow, slow moving water in areas that have an abundance of aquatic plant life. Carp live in small groups rather than in schools. They spend much of the time lurking in the weeds at the bottom of riverbeds. On hot afternoons they rise to the surface to bask in the sun. At might they emerge from the weeds to search for food.

Breeding: Carp mate in shallow water from April to June. A single 20 pound female can lay up to 2,000,000 eggs. She usually places them on the leaves of aquatic plants. The fry (young fish) hatch within 6 to 10 days, and they tend to remain in shallow water near the riverbank. At this stage the young are extremely vulnerable to attack from most other fish, including their parents. 

Food and Feeding: Carp use the four barbels (threadlike growths that function as organs of touch) located around their mouths to find food in the soft mud of the riverbed. They eat worms, shrimp, water snails, freshwater mussels, aquatic insects, nymphs, and water lilies and other plant matter. Occasionally carp rise to the water’s surface to feed on aquatic insects. Carp make a characteristic slurping noise as they ingest air and water along with their prey. Carp do not have true teeth. Instead, they use their throats like grinders to crush the shells of water snails and mussels. The carp then eject the shell fragments and swallow the flesh.

Carp and Man: Of all fish, the carp has had the longest association with man. It has long been used for food, as an ornament, and as sport for fishermen. Aristotle made the earliest known reference to them in 550 B.C. Since that time carp have been introduced to countries throughout the world. Carp have been selectively bred as ornamental fish for thousands of years. The Japanese have bred the carp most successfully. They produce a variety known as the koi carp. The koi are brilliantly colored fish and may be black and red, pure white, white with a red mark on the head, black and white, black and orange, or blue. They are considered to be extremely valuable.

Key Facts:
Sizes:
Length: Average 30 in.
Weight: Average 20 lb., but in rare instances females can reach 90 lb.

Breeding:
Sexual maturity: 2-3 years
Spawning: April to June
No. of eggs: Up to 2,000,000 from a 20 lb. fish
Hatching period: 6-10 days

Lifestyle:
Habit: Extremely cautious; lives in small schools
Diet: Worms, shrimps, water snails, freshwater mussels, aquatic insects, nymphs, some vegetable matter
Lifespan: 20-25 years in the wild

Related Species: There are about 2,500 species of Cypriniformes. Goldfish and roach are in the same order.
Distribution: Originally native to Japan, China, and Central Asia, the carp has been introduced into most of Europe and North America, as well as in parts of Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
Conservation: Carp breed so successfully wherever they have been introduced that they have reached plaguelike proportions in some countries, destroying stocks of pike and trout.

Features of the Carp: Carp avoid clear, fast flowing waters and shady or cold areas. Instead, they prefer shallow, sunlit waters with plentiful mud and plant growth on the bottom. The carp’s barbels (touch organs) are used for feeling for food in the mud. Mud that is swallowed is later ejected after the carp has digested all edible material. Carp fry (young) fall prey to almost any larger predator, including other carp.

Did You Know:
The age of a carp can be determined by counting the rings on its scales; each ring indicates a spawning year.
In the Soviet Union, carp have been selectively crossbred to grow at a faster rate; they gain 9 pounds a year.
Japanese carp breeders claim that some koi, a type of carp, are 200 years old.
Carp were introduced into central Africa to provide food for European expatriates.
In Eastern Europe, carp are often served as the traditional main course at Christmas dinner.
At the palace of Versailles in France, carp have been taught to pull bell ropes to indicate that they are hungry.

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