SNAKEHEAD: PREDATOR or PREY?

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I only know what I have read, which at this point, I have to believe is true. I have to assume they are extreme hunters based on what I know. ("Invasive aspect apart"...which is kind of hard to do since a lot of their reputation is based on how adaptable they are in the wild. If they weren't able to flourish well in most environments, I doubt they would have the stigma that they do. Most ANY fish including bass, catfish, bluegill, pike, etc. will attack it's prey with successful, quick and determined strikes).

Having said that, I wish that I could keep one :) I have read over and over that they make wonderful tank pets.
 
There was a television show wich i cannot recall the name that proved snakeheads cannot "walk" on land.They had a lab and took a nice foot and a half red snakehead out of its tank placed it on the floor and the poor fish only "walked" a couple of inches in a matter of like 5 minutes,.
 
I had one back in the mid 90s. My absolute favorite fish hands down. I actually joined MFK to see if I could find one because I hadnt seen any since I got back into the hobby a couple years ago. Found out real quick why I couldnt find any. =(
 
DCOWBOYS;4787052; said:
There was a television show wich i cannot recall the name that proved snakeheads cannot "walk" on land.They had a lab and took a nice foot and a half red snakehead out of its tank placed it on the floor and the poor fish only "walked" a couple of inches in a matter of like 5 minutes,.
Click to expand...

I live in Maryland, fish regularly, and have yet to ever see a walking snakehead. I am such a butthead ALWAYS trying to place any story that I hear into an analytical breakdown fueled by logic.

Hmmm, I could giva a rats rectum less about the three foot length, jaws & teeth and aggressive predator in the water status of the northern snakehead! The beast may very well be at the top of the food chain in it's freshwater environment.

The second that that monster makes the "decision" to take to land, it has FORFIETED it's spot as a top predator in the food chain, and assumed it role as one of the most vunerable lowest of the low on the food chain creatures in the state.

It would become easy and eligable prey for many species of large predatory birds, Snapping Turtles, Wolves, Foxes, Raccoons, Large Dogs, Bears and even humans!

Logic > fishtails:ROFL:
 
Many snakeheads are native to the region I am from although giant snakeheads were introduced much later, in a lake near my house however it has been overtaken by peacock bass which were also introduced, also the behaviour pattern of young snakeheads makes it easy to catch by humans, I know people who nets them in the thousands.
 
I wish they weren't illegal to keep
 
My first intro to snakeheads was in 1985 in Monmouth County NJ an exotic pet store where I picked up my first Boa had three huge snakeheads in a large tank. For 3$ you could buy a live mouse to throw in the tank!

When I moved to Ithaca Ny i kept snakeheads with wolfish and large polypterus for a few years. Both northern and red striped. They were crazy jumpers and eventually they ended up on the floor. I loved them though. Especially the Northern! The only fish that were illegal in NY that I knew about were Pirahna. I had one anyway......this really beautiful women upstairs from me at the time gave it to me. he had one eye....I named him Jack. Lived by himself in a 20 gallon for 4 years!
 
Its a HYPE. yes putting your hand in the tank can make you lose a finger, but hey we all have fishes like that but arent banned in the US.
 
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