8/10/2023 0 Comments Snakehead fish for saleReturn or donate unwanted aquarium fish to a pet store or local school. Don’t release any live fish into Ontario lakes, rivers or streams.It is against the law to keep a snakehead as a pet or have a live snakehead in your possession. Learn how to identify northern snakehead and how to prevent the introduction of this unwanted species.Two dorsal fins, short one followed by a long oneīurbot illustration: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation What can I do?.Eyespot on caudal peduncle (tail) of males and juvenilesīowfin illustration: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Burbot ( Lota lota).Bony plate (gular plate) present on underside of head.Northern snakehead illustration: Joe Tomelleri Bowfin ( Amia calva) Pelvic fins closer to head compared to bowfin.With a narrow, torpedo-shaped body and a long dorsal (back) fin, northern snakehead looks similar to Ontario’s native bowfin ( Amia calva), and burbot ( Lota lota).Ĭheck the chart below to know if you have a snakehead, a bowfin or another species. The northern snakehead can grow up to 85 centimetres long and weigh as much as seven kilograms. To prevent this unwanted invader from coming into Ontario, the province has banned the live possession and sale of all 28 species of snakehead, as well as other invasive fish species. Because the northern snakehead is highly adaptable it is likely to thrive in Ontario waters.The northern snakehead’s ability to eat a wide range of foods and live in varied conditions allows it to compete with many native fish for food and habitat.It eats native zooplankton, fish and fish larvae, frogs and toads, invertebrates, insects, small reptiles and even small birds and mammals. The northern snakehead has no natural enemies in North America.The northern snakehead could spread throughout the Great Lakes watershed and seriously threaten native fish and invertebrate populations in Ontario. Possible impacts of Northern Snakehead in Ontario Small numbers of fish have been found in several other states. Outside its native range, northern snakeheads have established breeding populations in the states of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. The snakehead has been dubbed a “frankenfish” because of its reptile-like behaviour, aggressive eating habits and mouthful of long, sharp teeth. Northern snakehead has a mouthful of long, sharp teeth. It has been reported to travel on land for short distances by wiggling its body forward.Ī lung-like organ enables it to absorb oxygen by gulping air at the surface, allowing it to thrive in water that is low in oxygen and to survive out of water in moist conditions for up to four days. The northern snakehead is a voracious predator that lives in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams in water temperatures ranging from 0° to 30° C. The fish was likely introduced to the United States by people who bought live snakehead from fish markets or pet shops and later released them into lakes, rivers or ponds. The northern snakehead is a predatory fish native to southern and eastern Asia that is now found in several American states.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |