Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Will grass carp eat these weeds

Wanting to know if a grass carp will eat this type of aquatic weed. If not what are the possible solutions? Thanks anyone

That looks like milfoil, if so then grass carp may or may not control it depending on your stocking rate. Here is list of vegation GC prefer to eat, note that milfoil is low side of the preference list.

http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/service/library/index.php3?docID=185&docHistory%5B%5D=1

I have found that grass carp do a good job in the Spring when the stuff gets started. They don't make much of a dent in established stuff. It's too tough for them.

I would not use grass carp for milfoil control. You would need at least 50 per vegetated acre. I would try a light dose of Avast or Sonar. Email me with more details.

Aaron Klusmire, Aquatic Biologist

Knock it back once with herbicides then use your grass carp to keep it down. If they have no other options, they will have to eat it. You will probably have to use herbicides again when the carp get out of balance with the weed production, but at least you aren't continually killing off your pond!

two prong apprach is best. Grass carp do a poor job on milfoil. However they help when combined with herbicide use. We have good luck with Reward on milfoil.

Shorty nice use of my out BUlldog material, a little outdated huh. Also totally disagree with musk grass as high preference and pond weed as moderate, flip those on the list and most of the other preferences are right.