| Biology |
Occur at a
temperature range of 3-35°C. Hardy and tolerant of a wide
variety of conditions but generally favor large water bodies
with slow flowing or standing water and soft bottom
sediments. Common carp thrive in large turbid rivers. They
are omnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic insects,
crustaceans, annelids, mollusks, weed and tree seeds, wild
rice, aquatic plants and algae; mainly by grubbing in
sediments. Spawn in spring and summer, laying sticky eggs in
shallow vegetation. A female 47 cm in length produces about
300,000 eggs. Young are probably preyed upon by northern
pike, muskellunge, and largemouth bass. Adults uproot and
destroy submerged aquatic vegetation and therefore may be
detrimental to duck and native fish populations. Utilized
fresh and frozen. Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more
individuals; minimum aquarium size >200 cm; not recommended
for home aquariums. |
