tropical pleco fish, also known as suckermouth catfish, have invaded the Chongqing City section of the Yangtze River and pose a serious threat to the ecological balance of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Once this fish establishes a population, it will severely harm the local fish and cause disastrous damage to the biological chain.
China News reports that fishermen living in Beipei, Chongqing City caught a strange fish that weighed over 500 grams (1.l pounds) last summer in a branch of the Jialing River. In July of the same year, fishermen caught two strange-looking fish in the water near Peiling, Chongqing City. Such a fish had never been seen before in the Yangtze River.
Fishery experts in Chongqing City believe that the strange fish, called pleco, are from foreign countries. Pleco are polytrophic fish that originate in the Amazon River.
The fish were introduced in China as ornamental fish. They have a strong ability to survive and live by eating algae, ground animals, and food scraps. They can also swallow huge amounts of spawn and fry (small or recently hatched fish).
Experts believe pleco have been in the Yangtze River for one to two years. They can survive through the cold winter and have already adapted to the weather and aquatic environment in Chongqing.
An official from the Chongqing City Fisheries Administration said that the typical weight of pleco living in fish tanks is less than 100 grams. However, the pleco caught from the two rivers near Chongqing City weighed around 500 grams. The official pointed out that because pleco can swallow 3,000 to 5,000 pieces of spawn and numerous fry, they pose a threat to the survival of other fish.
Currently, in the two rivers of Chongqing, the pleco have no natural enemies. Once they develop sizable populations, they will severely threaten the local fish and cause disastrous damage to the biological chain.
Authorities in Chongqing are keeping a close eye on these fish in both rivers in order to prevent the pleco from forming large populations that will harm other fish.
so yea, its every country that has problems with non native spp. and this time its china with plecos. UK currently has its own problem with Pseudorasbora parva out competing our natives like roach and rudd.
China News reports that fishermen living in Beipei, Chongqing City caught a strange fish that weighed over 500 grams (1.l pounds) last summer in a branch of the Jialing River. In July of the same year, fishermen caught two strange-looking fish in the water near Peiling, Chongqing City. Such a fish had never been seen before in the Yangtze River.
Fishery experts in Chongqing City believe that the strange fish, called pleco, are from foreign countries. Pleco are polytrophic fish that originate in the Amazon River.
The fish were introduced in China as ornamental fish. They have a strong ability to survive and live by eating algae, ground animals, and food scraps. They can also swallow huge amounts of spawn and fry (small or recently hatched fish).
Experts believe pleco have been in the Yangtze River for one to two years. They can survive through the cold winter and have already adapted to the weather and aquatic environment in Chongqing.
An official from the Chongqing City Fisheries Administration said that the typical weight of pleco living in fish tanks is less than 100 grams. However, the pleco caught from the two rivers near Chongqing City weighed around 500 grams. The official pointed out that because pleco can swallow 3,000 to 5,000 pieces of spawn and numerous fry, they pose a threat to the survival of other fish.
Currently, in the two rivers of Chongqing, the pleco have no natural enemies. Once they develop sizable populations, they will severely threaten the local fish and cause disastrous damage to the biological chain.
Authorities in Chongqing are keeping a close eye on these fish in both rivers in order to prevent the pleco from forming large populations that will harm other fish.
so yea, its every country that has problems with non native spp. and this time its china with plecos. UK currently has its own problem with Pseudorasbora parva out competing our natives like roach and rudd.
