I am native to China. I live in the Huai, Yangtze, Pearl, West (Si Kiang), Han Chiang, and Min rivers.

I was brought here by a fish farmer who wanted me to eat unwanted aquatic plant species in his fish ponds and improve the water quality in his ponds. Little did he know that I'm more trouble than I'm worth. Since then I have escaped from ponds and aquaculture facilities and now inhabit the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri river systems..

As larvae I overeat zooplankton, microscopic animals that float in the water. Because I reproduce very rapidly and in large numbers, I out compete the native fish that also like to eat zooplankton. One hazard I impose upon humans is that I jump 2-3 meters (6-10 ft) out of the water when I am disturbed. I can cause serious injuries to boaters. You may be thinking that I am related to flying fish but I am not.

Once I escape into the wild, it is almost impossible to control me. The most important thing to do is make sure that I don't invade new waters. Always dispose of bait in buckets and in live wells appropriately so tiny baby carp don't get dumped into the water. Never dump live fish from one body of water into another. Manmade containment structures can also be built prohibiting me from entering new water.