Amur Carp is a freshwater fish from East Asia that lives in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and ponds. Wild Amur Carp have a silvery body, reddish fins, and two pairs of whiskers at the mouth. Colorful koi are often classified with Amur Carp but can have mixed ancestry.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Wild fish are usually silvery with reddish fins. Adults are commonly 12–24 in (30–60 cm) long and have two pairs of barbels at the mouth.
Look-alikes
Common CarpCyprinus carpio
Wild common carp are often gray to bronze; wild Amur carp are usually silvery with red lower fins. Colorful koi and hybrids may not be separable from a photo.
GoldfishCarassius auratus
Check the mouth: koi have two pairs of short barbels, while goldfish have none.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- slow rivers
- ponds
- lakes
- Range
- Native to East Asia, from the Amur River basin to the Red River basin. Ornamental koi assigned to this species have been recorded as non-native fish in Florida waterways.
- Preferred conditions
- Lives in slow-moving rivers, lakes, and ponds.
- When it’s recorded
Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Apr
1,040 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference
Behavior
- Diet
- An bottom-feeder that sifts through the mud for small creatures, insect larvae, and decaying bits of plants and animals.
Life cycle
- Time to maturity
- Koi usually begin breeding around age 4. They may live for decades in managed ponds.
Name and classification
- About the name
- Amur carp were once grouped with Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio).
- Varieties and forms
- Koi come in many color patterns and can have mixed ancestry.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Threats
- Koi can carry koi herpesvirus (KHV), which can cause large die-offs of carp, so releasing pond fish into the wild is a concern.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Koi were developed in Japan and later spread widely through the aquarium and pond trade.