Grass Carp is one of Four Major Chinese Carps and a major food fish in the market. They have laterally compressed, elongated bodies, short snouts and large mouths. Their brownish-green backs and silvery-white bellies are covered in large scales with black edges. 

Adult fish mainly feed on aquatic plants, occasionally consuming aquatic insects. Due to their rapid growth rate and predominantly herbivorous diet, they are often introduced for aquatic vegetation control.