how can you tell a nile perch [taliapia] from a carp ?

[gene g]

i caught some fish in a cast net in a fresh water retention pond , i thought they were nile perch but there a little different from the taliapia or nile perch in the store, could they be carp..how can you tell the difference,

[James W]

The easiest way: Carp have no teeth.

[sweetwaterfish]

Tilapia and nile perch will have bodies that are shaped more like heavy panfish (bream, bluegill, sunfish). The carp will be more elongated (like a mullet or bass). If its an official type retention pond, many times they are stocked with grass carp to cut down on the amount of algae and grass that will grow in the pond, so I'd guess they are carp. The carp also tend to have a very strong "fishy odor".

[basalcellpfc]

Here ya go, check this link and see if it's one of these fish. It'll show you some exotics and a couple of different carp with descriptions.