Snakeheads (genus Channa) are one of the best known and most successful predatory freshwater fishes in Southeast Asia, they are also called snake-headed fishes, serpent-headed fishes or murrels in other parts of Asia but surprisingly, little is known of their natural history and biology.
Through my research and study about my favourite Snakehead which is the Giant Snakehead, I came across many websites dealing with the Northern Snakehead terror in Maryland pond and Potomac river, the Giant Snakehead terror in Rock River and finally the Cobra Snakehead in Florida.
They could have been some dealing directly with the legislation, but I am not sure. Most were just about the description of the species, how predatory it is and what an impact it can bring to the U.S ecosystem followed by how to identify them, catch them, told to kill them and the banning of the particular species. And there was some going against the banning of these predators in the United States of America. Because some are being ignorant and just kill and ban them over and over. Some just ban all species of Snakeheads.
But the Law keeps changing, I believe they are coming up with something reasonable. But mostly whether or not to ban the importation of an invasive species is depend on the climate of the state, whether or not the species can survive in the temperature of that water if being released. But also how vicious the particular species of Snakehead is. Like the Cobra Snakehead found in Florida is not taken too seriously at all, because it is a less aggressive species but a close eye is still kept on it. And it is also said that Snakeheads can be used to study climate changes.
People still have lack of knowledge regarding the Snakehead fish. When many western anglers came down to Asia ( before the Snakehead terror ), especially Thailand and being taken in search of a terrific topwater fighter, the Giant Snakehead / Channa Micropeltes which is the most largest and aggressive of all Channa species followed by the Cobra Snakehead / Channa Marulius and the Stripped Snakehead / Channa Striata, they found something that some had thought to be just a hoax, that serpent-headed fish do not exist. And the rest, when being told by these anglers, just have no idea what that is but the Snakehead terror has changed it all.
Still Snakehead fish is ridiculously insulted by many, being called evil, a fish from hell, frankenfish and so on and all they want to do is just kill them. Snakehead movies like the Snakehead Terror are something to be laughed about. But it is true, out of all Snakeheads, the Giant Snakehead is so known to break glass tanks, biting their aquarists' fingers off or seriously wounding, swimmers being attacked and some even castrated and killed in the wild when they had accidentally trespassed its territory ( when they are guarding their youngs ). But there are no scientific evidence of anyone being killed, only reports, you can see my All About The Giant Snakehead thread if you want to know further about this particular species of Snakehead. And stories of Giant Snakehead growing to an unbelievable size and eating humans are taken as nothing more than a tale.
But every animal does what it is in their nature to do, they are just being themselves. I will stop here, and speaking of the links, I can copy and paste them all here but they are so much of them, not that I don't want to, but for going through it, I believe it is best for you to just type 'Snakehead Terror' on yahoo search and you will get so much about it. Because of the Snakehead terror, sometimes it is tough to find a decent website regarding Snakehead fishes. You can search under Snakehead Terror in Maryland Pond and Potomac River, Snakehead Terror in Rock River and Florida. You will see, just so much, you can read through, even with maps showing which state ban and which states disband them.
In my opinion, it is just sad and pitiful to see Snakehead fans who truly understand and know this predator, who are experienced and responsible just unable to own them because of someone who was irresponsible with no knowledge of this predatory fish. Because of a single person or a few others if there were, all us true Snakehead lovers are being punished. A Snakehead does what it does, aggressive or less aggressive, Snakeheads are designed to hunt and kill and it will. Of course, I do not want to see them terrorizing and disabling the U.S ecosystem as well.
So these aggressive Snakeheads are indeed to be taken seriously, if so, do what it is reasonable to do with the ponds and lakes and rivers that Snakeheads are terrorizing, but do not ban the importation, let the buyers be tought about these predators before buying, as serious as it can be taken, and let them to at least have a permit to own this predator, oh even guns are allowed, why not a fish? Poor animal
, anglers and Snakehead lovers from the western countries are coming down to Asia just to see these magnificent predators. I hope I did not talk on and on giving you nothing you wanted at all
. And I wish you luck with your research paper for your federal wildlife law class.
And the true evil is not the Snakeheads but humans themselves.
