The common carp, an Asian native, is a member of the minnow family. Introduced to Minnesota in 1883 as a source of food, it can grow to more than 50 pounds. It has sharp senses of smell, hearing, and taste.

Identification

General description: The large, big-scaled carp has a light gold color and has a long dorsal fin. It has two pairs of barbels (whiskers) and a lipped mouth similar to a sucker.

Size: It's not unusual for carp to reach 30 or more pounds. The Minnesota record is 55 pounds, 5 ounces, caught in Clearwater Lake in Wright County in 1952.

Color: Carp are bronze to greenish with a light underside. They have orange dorsal and pectoral fins.

Reproduction

In spring, after the water warms up, carp move upstream in a river or congregate in shallow, weedy lake water. Females lay large numbers of eggs--up to 2 million at a time. The males fertilize eggs after the females spread them about in the shallow water. Eggs hatch after several days.

Food

Young carp eat mainly plant material, such as seeds. Older ones prefer water insects, snails, fish eggs, and plant parts.

Predators

Although they're not considered good eating by most Minnesotans, carp are an important food source for many people. Worldwide, more than 200,000 tons are harvested each year. Small carp are eaten by many predator fish such as walleye and northern pike.

Habitat and range

Carp live in lakes and rivers, marshes, and ponds throughout Minnesota. They are not too fussy about their habitat, but they prefer weedy, shallow, warm areas. Carp tend to gather in small schools.

Population and management

Although European Americans introduced carp intentionally to Minnesota, today the DNR is trying to reduce populations and prevent them from spreading to other lakes. It is illegal to transplant carp in Minnesota or to use live carp for bait.

Fun facts

Carp feed by slurping in mud from the bottom of the lake or river, spitting out the muck, and eating the edible food, such as seeds and insects. Because this disturbs the lake bottom and suspends mud and nutrients, this feeding method can muddy up a lake or wetland. In Europe this species is raised in ponds for food.