What Does a Carp Fish Look Like?

There are many thoughts that come to mind when you see a carp fish for the first time. But for most people, it’s safe to say that carp is probably one of the ugliest fish they’ve seen. Carps, in fact, belong to the same family as the minnow. However, carps tend to grow really fast. Unlike other fish types that stop growing after reaching sexual maturity, carps continue to grow all their lives. So, if you’re asking what does a carp fish look like, you ought to keep this in mind.

The biggest carp catch that we have seen was 105 pounds but there could be other bigger and heavier fish out there. In fact, there are reports that bigger carps have been spotted and as you can imagine, they are quite hard to catch.

What Do Carp Look Like?

Carp are considered fat fish. They tend to have a large body with a protruding arc that runs all across to the dorsal fin. In certain carp species, this arc can be quite long. Nonetheless, the fin edge will typically run across the entire length of the fish other than the front. The fin is also filled with rays, sometimes as much as 20 in one single carp.

It’s also impossible to fully know what does carp look like if you don’t consider the color of the fish. Well, there’s no specific color. Most carps will be somewhere between reddish and brown at the top with bronze accents on the sides. Some carp may also have gold accents as well. The colors will depend on the location of the fish, its species, and of course the age.

But the belly of most carp species tends to be much lighter. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find carp with a palish belly. Nonetheless, perhaps one of the most unique attributes of carp are the two large barbels that are located on each side of the mouth. As a matter of fact, there are no known fish species that have these barbels. This makes it relatively easier for anglers and fishing enthusiasts to identify carp.

Now, this feature may not apply to the question of what do baby carp look like but if you look a bit closer, you’re likely to see the barbels even though they will be much smaller. Carp also has very large scales that vary in terms of color. The scales will normally have a darker outer edge while the middle will be a bit lighter.

As for the size, there’s no question that carp is a large fish species. The fish can grow up to 30 inches in length. While on average carp weighs between 8 and 15 pounds, there are some species that can hit as much as 100 pounds.

Also, carp don’t stop growing. This means that eventually, they will become bigger and bigger as long as they are in predator-free areas. You’ll also notice that carp tend to have a rounded mouth with very soft edges. The mouth takes a big part of the head. So, if you have always asked what does a carp fish look like, the basic descriptions above should give you a rough idea of what to expect when you see this fish next time.

Types of Carp Species

As you would expect, carp have a wide range of species that look very different from each other. There’s, however, fish that looks like carp. This is why it’s important to be able to tell the difference.

Here are some tips that can help you identify different species of carp.

Common Carp

The common carp has a heavy body and is typically quite long. In fact, the common carp can have a length that’s four times higher than its height.

There are tiny scales all over its body and the fish comes in various colors. This includes shades of grey, green, silver, and even yellow. As with all carp species, the common carp also has two barbels on each side of the mouth.

Mirror Carp

Unlike the common carp that has a neat pattern of scales, the mirror carp has a more disorganized and rugged look.

There’s, however, a variety of colors that range from yellow to brownish. Some species, however, tend to be white.

Leather Carp

The leather carp requires close inspection to identify some of the subtle features that make it unique. For example, if you’re asking what does a leather carp fish look like, you may want to check the dorsal fin for scales.

The leather carp often has small tiny scales around that area. The fish will range between 10 and 20 pounds in weight and can go as high as 30 pounds.

Grass Carp

The grass carp is the only carp species that doesn’t have the unique barbels on either side of the mouth. This species will often be yellow but there are also green species with lighter bottoms.

The scales are also regular and the body tends to be muscular and more elongated. This species will weigh somewhere between 8 and 20 pounds.

Koi Carp

Koi carp is arguably the most beautiful of all carp species. It has a bright orange color but some species can be red, brown, and yellow. Its scales are colorful and glowing.

While this makes them quite good-looking, it also means that they are easy targets for predators on land and in water. Nonetheless, the species can grow between 10 and 20 pounds.

Conclusion

Carp fish species are big, muscular, and elongated. For people that are asking what a carp fish looks like, that would be a simple way to describe the fish.

But the most crucial thing is the two barbels on either side of the mouth. This will identify almost all carp species even though the colors and sizes vary a lot.