This study was conducted to investigate the food and feeding habits of the introduced common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in Lake Ardibo, Ethiopia during dry (February-March) and wet (JulyAugst) months in 2023. Fish specimens were collected by gillnets of various stretched mesh sizes (5cm, 5.8 cm, 6cm, 10cm, 12cm). The gut contents were analyzed using frequency of occurrences and volumetric methods of analysis. A total of 915 fish specimens were collected of which 605(66.12%) guts contained food but 310(33.88%) were empty. The overall sex ratio of female to male C. carpio varied significantly during the sampling period 1:0.72 (p < 0.05). The predominant prey items in terms of frequency of occurrence were zooplankton (72.72%), phytoplankton (66.77%), detritus (66.77%), and macrophyte (39%). Volumetrically, zooplankton (36.27%), phytoplankton (31.41%), macrophyte (15.08%), and detritus (14.81%). However, the contribution of unidentified matters, insects, sand particles, ostracods, gastropods, and fish eggs was low. In the present study, seasonal variation was noted in the diet of C. carpio. Frequency occurrences of phytoplankton and zooplankton varied significantly (𝑋 2 𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑝 < 0.05 ) between dry and wet months. Likewise, the volumetric contribution of phytoplankton, zooplankton, macrophytes, and detritus varied significantly (U test < 0.05) between dry and wet months. Zooplankton, diatom, green algae, macrophyte, and detritus were the major food items during dry months occurring at 87.68, 54.77%, 26.6%, 33.6%, and 61.8% of the guts, respectively, and comprising 53.2%, 15.26%, 4.9%, 10.14%, and 12.7% of the entire volume of food items, respectively. Blue-green algae, green algae, detritus, and macrophytes were the dominant food items during wet months, occurring in 59.42%, 61.3%, 76.32%, and 49.3% of the guts, respectively, and comprising 23.1%, 13.1%, 17.98%, and 24.24% of the total volume of prey items, respectively. The frequency occurrence of detritus and macrophyte was comparable during wet and dry months. Insects and fish eggs contributed less to the diet during the dry months but were absent in the wet months. Schoner Diet Overlap Index revealed there were no significant dietary shifts between juveniles and adults. Both juveniles and adults of C. carpio in Lake Ardibo consumed a variety of prey items. Therefore, based on the result of gut contents; C. carpio is recognized for its omnivorous feeding behavior consuming both plant and animal-based prey. Therefore, C. carpio in Lake Ardibo are deemed suitable candidate fish species for aquaculture development due to their adaptability and versatile dietary habits.