Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Common Carp are one of the most widespread introduced freshwater fish in the United States. Common Carp have thick lips, two pairs of whisker-like feelers at the mouth, and a long fin along the back. Fish bred in captivity can look very different from one another.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults are usually bronze, gold, or dark brown with reddish fins. They can reach about 4 ft (1.2 m), and the mouth has two pairs of .

Look-alikes

GoldfishCarassius auratus

Common Carp have two pairs of barbels at the mouth; Goldfish have none. Feral Goldfish can be bronze rather than orange, so color alone is unreliable.

Why they get mixed upLarge feral Goldfish can have the same deep body and bronze color.

Grass CarpCtenopharyngodon idella

Grass Carp lack barbels and have a much shorter dorsal fin. Their large scales usually have dark edges that make a crosshatched pattern.

Why they get mixed upBoth are large, introduced members of the minnow family.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: lakes and reservoirs
slow rivers and backwaters
brackish bays
Range: The species is native to Eurasia and has been introduced across the United States. It has been recorded in every state except Alaska, although local establishment varies.
Preferred conditions: It is especially common in warm, slow, murky water and in human-made reservoirs.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in May–Jun
7,190 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: Common Carp are that root along the bottom for plant material, decaying matter, aquatic insects, and other small animals.
Activity: Bottom feeding can uproot plants and stir sediment. In North America, dense populations can cloud the water and reduce habitat for native fish that depend on clear, vegetated shallows.

Life cycle

Breeding season: In temperate areas, spawning usually begins in spring as water warms. European strains begin spawning near 63–64°F (17–18°C).
Reproduction: Females scatter sticky eggs over submerged plants, flooded grass, or other underwater surfaces.

Name and classification

About the name: Amur Carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) was once treated as the same species as Common Carp. Older references may therefore use Common Carp for both.
Varieties and forms: Mirror carp have a few enlarged scales, while leather carp have very few scales. These are domestic forms rather than separate wild species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Status: In the United States, Common Carp are managed as an invasive species because they can damage aquatic habitat.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: In the late 1800s, Common Carp were widely distributed across the United States as a food fish.
Today, people still eat Common Carp, and anglers catch them for sport.

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