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As an avid aquarist and fisherman, as I read the responses I am a little concerned that people don''t really understand the snakehead issue and what is at stake.
I have kept fish and snorkelled for many years, but the first time I really discovered snakeheads was on the snakeheads.org website this last year. Channa micropeltes is absolutely spectacular as an adult (see J.F. Helias'' fishing photos on that site if you have any doubts) and I immediately began making plans for the construction of a very large plywood and glass aquarium in which to house three of the fish--that is, before I found out the sale, transport, and even ownership in some cases are banned in many states. This is most unfortunate for those of us who are responsible fishkeepers and know how to care for large predatory fish.
However, what people don''t seem to understand is that the state department and the fish and game department do not make decisions about banning trade in any species lightly. Any time you ban the trade of something, you hurt the domestic economy a little bit, for one thing. And it becomes one more thing to look out for in customs, etc... which costs time, money, etc...its really a big pain.
Let''s be honest. Channa sp. are highly effective predators: that is, they are very good at catching and eating fish and amphibians. The fish and game department is familiar with what happens when such an animal is introduced to an ecosystem where it doesn''t belong, because they have had to witness what the large mouth bass has done all over the country wherever they introduced it (I feel for the guys at DFG, they have been their own worst enemy at times. The bullfrog is another good example of a domestic species run amuck.)
And while the adults of large snakehead species are not likely to make migrations over land to spread, no doubt there are enough irresponsible hobbyists out there to make sure that snakeheads would be widely disseminated. It doesn''t matter what you or I would do or not do with such a fish as the Red Snakehead. Someone somewhere would release them over and over again, in different parts of the country.
You know those people are out there, because they are the same people you see buying large fish as juveniles and putting them in tanks that are much too small for them; they are the people who catch and keep aligators as pets until they get big enough to chase the family dog and then release them; and they are the people who don''t keep their agressive dog on a leash or behind a fence even though there are children in the neighborhood. There are lots of every day examples of such irresponsible, sometimes ignorant people that we are all familiar with. So lets not kid ourselves and pretend it wouldn''t happen. Snakeheads are already established in south Florida--the most ideal habitat in the US for most species of snakehead anyway.
The list of native species that would be threatened by such spectacular predators is endless. One of my personal favorites is the bowfin, Amia calva (if you like snakeheads and live in the south and eastern part of the US, the bowfin is a worthy alternative--but keep in mind that many places it is illegal to transport bowfin!). The bowfin can survive out of water wrapped in newspaper for a very long time, has tubular nostrils it can extend, and a long dorsal fin that ripples beautifully and allows it to move forward and backward gracefully. It is also very carnivorous, and has three rows of sharp teeth, so don''t put your finger in its mouth if you encounter one. There are no other species of bowfin anywhere else in the world, and freshwater game fishermen are always killing them as they consider them "trash fish" because they are too bony to eat, even though they fight like whales (and who eats bass anywhay?).
The one good thing about snakeheads becoming established invaders of US waters is that it could ensure their survival. Many species are rare or threatened by over fishing and destruction of habitat/polution in their own countries.
Are large tropical species like the Red likely to spread outside of Florida? No, probably not. And of course they are not a direct threat to human safety. And a permit program like they have for species like the Siamese Tiger fish in FL is a good idea, especially when it involves education. And education for pet owners is always a good thing, whether its for fish, agressive dogs, huge snakes, or ridiculously large felines (Sigfeid & Roy).
I have kept fish and snorkelled for many years, but the first time I really discovered snakeheads was on the snakeheads.org website this last year. Channa micropeltes is absolutely spectacular as an adult (see J.F. Helias'' fishing photos on that site if you have any doubts) and I immediately began making plans for the construction of a very large plywood and glass aquarium in which to house three of the fish--that is, before I found out the sale, transport, and even ownership in some cases are banned in many states. This is most unfortunate for those of us who are responsible fishkeepers and know how to care for large predatory fish.
However, what people don''t seem to understand is that the state department and the fish and game department do not make decisions about banning trade in any species lightly. Any time you ban the trade of something, you hurt the domestic economy a little bit, for one thing. And it becomes one more thing to look out for in customs, etc... which costs time, money, etc...its really a big pain.
Let''s be honest. Channa sp. are highly effective predators: that is, they are very good at catching and eating fish and amphibians. The fish and game department is familiar with what happens when such an animal is introduced to an ecosystem where it doesn''t belong, because they have had to witness what the large mouth bass has done all over the country wherever they introduced it (I feel for the guys at DFG, they have been their own worst enemy at times. The bullfrog is another good example of a domestic species run amuck.)
And while the adults of large snakehead species are not likely to make migrations over land to spread, no doubt there are enough irresponsible hobbyists out there to make sure that snakeheads would be widely disseminated. It doesn''t matter what you or I would do or not do with such a fish as the Red Snakehead. Someone somewhere would release them over and over again, in different parts of the country.
You know those people are out there, because they are the same people you see buying large fish as juveniles and putting them in tanks that are much too small for them; they are the people who catch and keep aligators as pets until they get big enough to chase the family dog and then release them; and they are the people who don''t keep their agressive dog on a leash or behind a fence even though there are children in the neighborhood. There are lots of every day examples of such irresponsible, sometimes ignorant people that we are all familiar with. So lets not kid ourselves and pretend it wouldn''t happen. Snakeheads are already established in south Florida--the most ideal habitat in the US for most species of snakehead anyway.
The list of native species that would be threatened by such spectacular predators is endless. One of my personal favorites is the bowfin, Amia calva (if you like snakeheads and live in the south and eastern part of the US, the bowfin is a worthy alternative--but keep in mind that many places it is illegal to transport bowfin!). The bowfin can survive out of water wrapped in newspaper for a very long time, has tubular nostrils it can extend, and a long dorsal fin that ripples beautifully and allows it to move forward and backward gracefully. It is also very carnivorous, and has three rows of sharp teeth, so don''t put your finger in its mouth if you encounter one. There are no other species of bowfin anywhere else in the world, and freshwater game fishermen are always killing them as they consider them "trash fish" because they are too bony to eat, even though they fight like whales (and who eats bass anywhay?).
The one good thing about snakeheads becoming established invaders of US waters is that it could ensure their survival. Many species are rare or threatened by over fishing and destruction of habitat/polution in their own countries.
Are large tropical species like the Red likely to spread outside of Florida? No, probably not. And of course they are not a direct threat to human safety. And a permit program like they have for species like the Siamese Tiger fish in FL is a good idea, especially when it involves education. And education for pet owners is always a good thing, whether its for fish, agressive dogs, huge snakes, or ridiculously large felines (Sigfeid & Roy).