In order to survey absorption rate differences between common carp and other fresh water fishes, 65Zn was added to diet or water and zinc absorption studied. Results indicate that common carp absorb 3 times more zinc from their diet than tilapia, 3.4 times more than grass carp, and 6.8 times more than silver carp. The relative absorption rates of 65Zn from water among common carp and other fishes were found to be insignificant. Obviously the reason why common carp have a higher zinc concentration in its tissue than other fishes is due to that it has several times higher absorption rate of zinc from diet than other fishes. Under experimental conditions, common carp absorbed 95% of its zinc from diet; whereas, tilapia, grass carp and silver carp absorbed 85%, 78%, and 78% of their zinc from diet, respectively. Diet was the predominate source for zinc absorption in all fishes studied. The absorption channel of zinc from water in common carp was investigated. It was found that gill was the major channel.