Re: NANFA-- snakeheads

John Bongiovanni (bongi_at_cox-internet.com)
Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:20:56 -0500

Largemouth Bass are aggressive eaters for sure. As I was flipping
through the channels on TV sunday morning I had to do a double take on
one of those fishing programs. Usually I treat these programs the same
as the 1/2 hour infomercials; I zap 'em. But this sunday I had to stop.
On our local fishing program the two fishermen captured with their net
a LM bass of about 3 1/2 lbs trying to swallow a 2 1/2 lb bass. It was
if they held a two tailed bass. As they held the Fish (pl) both tails
were wagging. The mouth of the larger was fully extended fitting in the
smaller bass. They removed the smaller one carefully being careful to
depress the dorsal. pectoral fins and the opurculum as they removed it.
There was very little damage to it. They released both and both swam
away readily.

It really was quite a sight. As both fish swam away I changed channels.

John

Bob Bock wrote:

>I found lots of water insects in the Crofton pond, and 5 bluespotted
>sunfish. So far the DNR has electroshocked about a hundred babies out of
>the pond. It could be that the bass have eaten many more--big snakeheads
>supposedly lay a hundred thousand eggs per spawn.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Bongiovanni" <bongi_at_cox-internet.com>
>To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 16, 2002 11:12 PM
>Subject: Re: NANFA-- snakeheads
>
>
>>We are reading now that native species are now preying on zebra mussles.
>> It may have taken a few years for native populations to realize that
>>the zebra mussle is a potential food source. Its likely that population
>>control in China (for the fish not the chinese) would be predation upon
>>the fry thus not requiring a "bigger, meaner fish. There are likely
>>several species that have developed a "taste" for the young thus
>>controlling the population in China. In North American waters natives
>>may have not yet recognized the eggs/fry as potential food items and
>>thus the snakehead looses its source of population control.
>>
>>A good indicator of this is that when they electroshocked the pond many
>>(hundreds?) of juveniles were found. There obviously was nothing
>>preying on they young. Is this due to some sort of brooding behavior?
>> or lack of predators on the young and eggs. You don't always have to
>>have a bigger, meaner fish to control the population. Even insects and
>>larvae can predate on the eggs and fry.
>>
>>Just a thought.
>>
>>
>>John
>>
>>Moontanman_at_aol.com wrote:
>>
>>>I guess I have to ask, isn't the viscousness of these fish mostly hype? I
>>>mean you would think that great white sharks spend time worrying about
>>>meeting up with a snake head. Aren't they pretty much like a bowfin? It
>>>
>seems
>
>>>unlikely that snakeheads are the meanest fish on the planet, I'm sure
>>>alligator gars might be a contender for the crown. While I wouldn't want
>>>snakeheads to escape into the ecosystem of Maryland I am sure there are
>>>
>fish
>
>>>that would and could eat a snakehead. It seems to me like maybe we need
>>>
>to
>
>>>regroup and tell it like it is instead of trying to terrify everyone
>>>
>about
>
>>>this fish. Eventually crying wolf might result in all tropical fish being
>>>illegal regardless of their true nature. (When I say we I don't mean
>>>
>NANFA
>
>>>but aquarium hobbyists in general) I know it cool to be able to tell your
>>>date that if she (or he) would come home with you, you would show her (or
>>>him) the most dangerous fish on earth....
>>>
>--
>
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>>/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
>>/ Association"
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>>
>Association
>
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>>
>http://www.nanfa.org
>/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
>/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
>/ Association"
>/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
>/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
>/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
>/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
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/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org