Grass carp albino - Ctenopharyngodon idella

The albino grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella is the pure white, red-eyed form of the large pond fish from China. It is also known as the albino form of the White Amur, albino Chinese carp or albino grass fish. The slightly underslung, blunt and bulging mouth also identifies the albino form of the White Amur as a herbivore and algae e ater.

The wild form and also the albino form have been commercially exploited for many hundreds of years, first in their native Asia, and later in other regions. Grass carp were introduced into cultivated waters in our country in the 1960s to combat algae and overgrowing aquatic plant populations. Albino Chinese carp require rather calm and deep water areas with higher water temperatures above 20 °C.

The elongated Albino Grass Carp can grow to a size of 120 to 150 cm and reach a weight of up to 50 kg. A pair of albino grass carp therefore needs a pond that holds at least 10,000 liters. 1000 liters are required additionally for each additional albino grass carp. We recommend keeping them in pairs. Of course, the albino form can also be socialized with the wild form of the grass carp. The pond for albino grass carp must be at least 2 meters deep.

The albino grass carp lives up to its name. The herbivore feeds on filamentous algae, pond plants and can even be seen eating grass from the pond edge when food is scarce. A pond with albino grass carp will need to be stocked with new plants frequently. A vegetable pond fish food or even plain grass clippings can also be used to feed the albino grass fish. Nevertheless, the plants in the fish pond are always nibbled at least. Albino grass carps particularly like hornwort, duckweed, filamentous algae, net algae, cattails, sedges, waterweed and even reeds. Depending on the water temperature, albino grass carp eat as much food as they weigh themselves every day in the summer months , and eat much less in winter and cold temperatures.

Albino Grass Carp can live up to 35 years, 5-11 years is the norm. The Albino White Amur can grow up to 20 cm in its first year depending on the space available and the food given. A good 10 cm is added in each subsequent year.

Albino grass carp prefer warmer water and only get into spawning mood when water temperatures are permanently above 20 °C. Mass reproduction is therefore rather impossible. Young Albino Grass Carp feed on smaller invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans and insect larvae before switching to a purely vegetable diet after a while. Smaller White Amur like to hang out in the plants along the shore of the pond.

The Albino Grass Carp likes it warm: water temperatures between 21 and 27° C are ideal, but even 30° C are no problem. Even a pond in a full sun location is therefore unproblematic, as long as the oxygen supply is ensured. A pond with Albino Grass Carp should be well aerated with the help of a water feature, an oxydator for garden ponds or an aerator

Albino Grass Carp can overwinter in our latitudes without any problems in the pond, but then they also need a reliable oxygen supply and an at least partially always open water surface, which you can achieve with an ice freezer or a pond thermostat.

Minimum order quantity: 2 animals
Size: 7-10 cm or 10-12 cm