CHANNA!!! in the backyard!!!!
- Thread starter Eatsomekiwis
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ewurm;843428; said:
Yeah, I should have mentioned that. Not only is he lucky for not having them in his ecosystem he is also lucky that they are legal there. Because a few idiot fishkeepers released their snakeheads knowone else in the country can own them.
I actually havent seen any decrease in fish populations or any dramatic change, Ive caught more fish this year than I have last, just think of them as bigger bass so yeah I dont really think they are doing anything negative to the ecosystem here
infecTion;843795; said:
No offence but LMB and other gamefish aren't the only fish in the Potomac, there are hundreds of species that could be impacted. Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, plants, inverts etc. Some are common and some are no doubt rare. The ecosystem will change with the new addition, it has to. Let's hope it's not as bad as many fear. Honestly though, you will probably never know the full impact of the snakehead introduction to the Potomac, no matter what the outcome. It may interest you to know that like snakeheads largemouth bass aren't native to the Potomac river either.
sandtiger;844977; said:
If they were going to "Take Over" anywhere in the U.S. it would be S. Florida. I just read an article from Florida Fish and Game that said the hype isn't reality.
Snakeheads do not "Decimate" other populations of fish, native or otherwise. I live in the state to prove it.
You can go to C14 Canal in Miami where they are heavily concentrated and still pull LMB, Peacock, Jag, etc... all day.
I really wish you guys in the northern states would stop "Blowing up" the hype even more than it already is.
After all, if Channa were such a "destroyer" there would be no other species in the waters where they originate from, now would there??
Makes you wonder just who is responsible for the ban...The morons who released snakeheads into native waters or the people buying into the media hype who should be experienced enough to know better...
Jeesh guys...Give it a rest already! LOL
Samps;845237; said:
The Potomac isen't the same as Florida. It's a different ecosystem in a different environment with different creatures. You cannot compair them and the impact in one place is bound to be different then in others. I would like to see this article you read, please cite it for us.
You realize that peacock bass and jaguar cichlids aren't native either don't you? They don't belong in Florida anymore then the snakehead. Florida it full of invasive species and it is a problem. Besides, like I said before. Just becuase you can still catch a few gamefish does not mean the environment is doing "just fine".
No. Channa are made to live where they came from. The organisims in Asia evolved to deal with them. They have what ecologists call a nitch. A nitch is the role an organism fills in a given ecosystem. Snakeheads have a nitch in their home country but not in NA. They did not originate in NA. Other predators compete with them, prey animals don't know how to deal with them. There are classic examples of invasive species doing harm to native species. Common carp dig up native plant life, European starlings steal the nests of bluebirds, Nile Tilapia are responsable for cichlid extinctions in Africa's lake Victoria. These animals, like the snakehead are destroying a balance that has been in existance for eons, one you don't understand and one you cannot claim does not exist simply because you caught some largemouths.
Being a fellow fishkeeper I would hope that you would know better. But look. This thread has the power to become a valuable teaching tool. I have no problem debating this or teaching you why snakeheads don't belong here. Lets just try to keep it civil before this thread has to get locked.
sandtiger;845269; said:
Wow... It seems that you like long winded posts tiger. Unfortunately, I'm not going to be drawn into a debate that's going to take up my whole Sunday to type out.
If you'd like to discuss, we can do that. Please keep responses succinct if you'd like to debate.
Why is it people from NY/NJ feel like they need to teach the rest of the country something?? LOL It's like Californians wanting to share their "Diet Plans" with the rest of us! haha
I'll find the article I referenced this evening. As for what part of the U.S. the channa are in, it makes no difference. Native species are native species everywhere. Although the ecology may be different, you are making a broad statement hyping up that "Snakeheads will destroy native populations" without any proof.
Please provide me an article with actual PROOF that this has occurred (based on actual case study) as opposed to an article talking about what "Could happen" if you would please.
No offense but there is no need to attempt to "educate" me or "teach" me if you will. I am well aware of what species are/were native to FL and I know which have been introduced.
It's all in a nice, little, handy dandy website: http://floridafisheries.com/Fishes/index.html
I completely understand the IMPACT that invasive species can cause and have never argued that fact. What I am presenting to you is to PLEASE not hype this up with subjective Rhetoric and speculation.
I never stated that snakehead "belong here". Please read my post again. I said that they are not decimating native populations as predicted.
Making statements like,"As a fellow fishkeeper, you should know better" is asking for a fight.
If you'd like to keep this thread educational, don't attempt to be so condescending.
Thanks
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