Releasing a northern pike

[Hdeuce]

I knew that headline would get your attention.


I live in syracuse new york, lots of ponds and lakes in my area, Northern pikes are native fish if i were to catch a wild one at a small size and raise it, once it outgrew my tank i could release it to the wild no problem because its a native fish correct ?

I know that someone is going to say "you should never release a captive raised fish" But im speaking about releasing a native fish back into a lake they are already dominant in. and my main question is , it cant have any negative ecological effect on the region to release a native fish into a native lake correct?

 

[Greenspot]

What if it catches a disease in your tank, and passes it on to wild fish once reeased, causing serious damage to the whole wild population.

 

[channarox]

no.
it may release disease that does not naturally occur in the pond.

 

[The Ippster]

that could only happen if he introduced noon native fish to the tank, and even if he did, very unlikly

 

[Greenspot]

Here in australia gouramis carry a pathogen that affects native murray cod. Unlikely but it happens.

 

[michaeljames]

personally man I think if your gonna take a native fish and put it in an aquarium, and months later release it. I think you should fish bat the poor thing or sell it because while yes it isnt going to disrupt the eco system. it very easily could pass unnatural disease back into the waters effecting all pike or even all species in that waterbody. it may sound mean to kill it but I love fishing for pike and I would do anything to help keep them healthy and thriving in my area. for the sake of the stock, you dont release him back into the stock, eat'em, stuff'e,. sell'em whatever but dont be ignorant and re release

 

[davo]

Not to mention it's more than likely illegal.

 

[frasertheking]

if it is not illegal it is not a good idea as the fish will loose its fear of humans and its ability to hunt. if you do it be sure to use a set up that has been completely disinfected with bleach water solution and no water or tools used in another tank come in contact with it. failing that when it gets to big eat it.

 

[OnceLoyal]

I would look at it like this. If the fish has been isolated from other fish. (you caugh it, kept it in the aquarium solo for awhile, and now want to realease it)...That should be ok imo. If you had it in with other fish. No man no way!!! As stated before it might have a frikinmyutated parasire/virus/bacterail fungus thing that will decimate the local wild population...
I hope some of that made sense becasue I just woke up!!

 

[BushFishRox]

As long as it is either a solo fish or only kept kept with other local wild caught fish you wont have a problem with foreign disease... dont go to the LFS for a new tank mate

Also you should feed it meaty foods like frozen shrimp, frozen fish from the supermarket etc. and it wont lose any hunting skills...

This practice is actually quite common in Ontario, raise baby fish until they are adults and then release them at a certain size.