Albino Grass Carp

Overview

Everything you need to know about Albino Grass Carp, at a glance:

• Common Names: White Amur, Silver Orf
• Scientific Name: Ctenopharyngodon idella
• Max Size: ~120cm
• Temperature Range: 10-30°C, though can survive temperatures close to freezing
• pH Range: 7.0-8.0
• Compatibility: Peaceful, but need to be kept in large ponds
• Area Of Origin: Native to China and Russia
• Suitable Foods: Algae, weeds, and a wide variety of sticks, pellets, and flakes.
• Special Requirements: Grow very quickly and need to be kept in ponds >5,000L

What is an Albino Grass Carp?

Grass Carp are a close relative of the Common Carp. They’re large, herbivorous fish native to Russia and China, though they’re now found in over 90 countries worldwide. They can live for up to 15 years in captivity and, if given the care they need, can grow to huge sizes of 1.2m!

Grass Carp are popular pond fish for two reasons: their docile nature, and their voracious appetite for algae and aquatic weeds. A single Grass Carp can consume its entire body weight in algae and aquatic weed per day, making them fantastic weed control in a large garden pond.

There are a few different varieties of Grass Carp and while none are quite as stunning as their close cousins Koi Carp, they do have their own unique charm. They have long, cylindrical bodies that are typically silver or gold in colour. This albino variety is white all over with a distinctive red eye.

How do I care for Albino Grass Carp?

Grass Carp are hardy fish, though considering that they can grow to sizes of ~120cm they’re not exactly suitable for first-time pond keepers, or those with a small pond less than 5,000L in volume.

The most important thing to consider when keeping Grass Carp is space. They grow at an alarming rate and, when kept in warm water environments, can put on more than 1kg per year! An individual Grass Carp needs at least 5,000L of space, though more is always better.

Grass Carp eat a lot and, as a result, produce a lot of waste. To make sure that this large amount of waste doesn’t pollute your pond water, you’ll need a large and powerful pond filter. We stock a wide range here at Swell UK, but the best types for a large pond full of big fish is either a box filter or a Koi pond filter.

As large pond fish, Grass Carp consume a lot of oxygen and therefore need to be kept in a garden pond where oxygen is readily available. To increase the amount of oxygen in your pond, create a waterfall, install a pond fountain, or run a powerful air pump. All of these methods will introduce additional oxygen to your pond and, in doing so, keep your Grass Carp healthy and happy.

When it comes to food, Grass Carp will readily accept a variety of sticks, pellets, and flakes. They also enjoy fresh vegetables like lettuce, spinach and peas, as well as fruits like apples and oranges. They’ll eat algae and aquatic weeds too, like blanket weed and duckweed, though this shouldn’t be their sole food source; their diet needs to be supplemented with some nutrient-packed pond fish foods.

It’s worth noting that Grass Carp are known to eat pond plants and may, if given the chance, snack on your prized waterlilies. If you want to keep pond plants with Grass Carp, consider putting them alongside the shallow margins of your pond where they’re less likely to be eaten.

How is this Albino Grass Carp delivered?

All of our aquatic animals are dispatched from our livestock distributor and delivered directly to your doorstep. Our distributor dispatches and delivers livestock packages Tuesday through Friday to avoid animals being in transit over the weekend. To further minimise time spent travelling, all livestock deliveries are made before 1pm on the day of delivery.

After placing your livestock order, you’ll receive all the information needed to track your livestock order via email. If you have any problems regarding delivery, or concerns about the health/wellbeing of your animal(s) upon arrival, please contact us, Swell UK Ltd, immediately, or at least within 48 hours of receiving your livestock order.

Any other, non-livestock items that you purchase alongside livestock will be sent via standard or express delivery and arrive at your delivery address in a different package. This means that, depending on when you place your order, you may receive your non-livestock items before or after your livestock package.

For a detailed breakdown of when you can expect to receive your livestock package depending on the day you placed your order, be sure to check the delivery details in the specifications below.

How do you acclimate an Albino Grass Carp to a pond?

It’s very important that you acclimatise new fish to your pond. This is the process of gradually adjusting an animal to its new environment and it’s especially important in an aquatic setting where sudden changes in water temperature, pH, and nitrates can cause stress, illness and, in some cases, even death.

To acclimatise your Grass Carp, add it to a large, dimly lit container and add a small amount of pond water every few minutes. Do this until water temperatures in this container match water temperatures in your pond, and for at least 20 minutes. If you don’t have a large container to hand, you can float the bag containing your fish in your pond instead.

You should always set up your pond and make sure it’s ready for fish prior to purchasing any. It’s also a good idea to let your pond filter mature for a few months before adding Koi. A single Grass Carp can produce a lot of mess; your pond filter needs to be able to handle this if it’s to maintain a healthy environment.

Above photos are for illustration purposes only; livestock received may not exactly match those photographed.