Grass carp have elongated, chubby, torpedo-shaped body forms. The terminal mouth is slightly oblique with non-fleshy, firm lips, and no barbels.The complete lateral line contains 40 to 42 scales. Broad, ridged, pharyngeal teeth are arranged in a 2, 4-4, 2 formula. The dorsal fin has eight to 10 soft rays, and the fin is set closer to the tail than most cyprinids. Body color is dark olive, shading to brownish-yellow on the sides, with a white belly and large, slightly outlined scales.
The grass carp grows very rapidly. Young fish
stocked in the spring at 20 cm (7.9 in) will reach over 45 cm (18 in) by
fall. The average length is about 60–100 cm (24–39 in). The maximum
length is 1.4 m (4.6 ft) and the maximum weight 40 kg (88 lb). According
to one study, they live an average of five to 9 years, with the oldest
surviving 11 years.
They eat up to three times
their own body weight daily. They thrive in small lakes and backwaters
that provide an abundant supply of freshwater vegetation
