Rocky the SnakeHead

[JD7.62]

People are interested in different things I guess. But you got to look at if it was something you cared about like this guy cares about his fish. Maybe your dog or your favorite fishing lure.

It's hard to find a home for it for a couple reasons. One they are illegal in all states except Maryland (which is ironic because you remember the whole snakehead scare started in Crofton Pond Maryland a few years back). Since there is a federal ban on Channa, the fish can not be moved across state lines to a private individual in Maryland who can legally own the fish because Congress completely takes advantage of its "right" to regulate interstate commerce (I could go off for days on that right there in itself!!! GRRRR!!)

Second, Channa microlepis are nothing special from the stand point of a learning institution or zoo/aquarium. Chris probably payed less then $10 for this fish in 1999. in their native countries they are nothing more then a food fish though they are often kept as pets there too. Heck, like goldfish here, young channa microleips are sold as feeder fish in pet stores! Zoos and aquariums, especially in this economic crunch, dont have much money to apply for the permit needed to keep it plus build and maintain an aquarium for the animal.

Ive dealt with these fish before and though it not like a dog greeting you when you come in the door, they are very much a pet. They can tell you from a stranger and really interact with you (all of course over food but still). So I guess I can kind of see how after ten years Chris has grown attached to his pet and is fighting tooth and nail for it. Afterall, do you think if the government banned a furry pet there would be grandfather clause unlike this ban?

[DJD]

Sounds to me from what I have learned from you and t.v. (did i say that? t.v.?) is that responsible fish owners are being grouped in with less than respectful fish owners so you all suffer together. I know they have talked about banning pit bulls in some areas of the united states. Don't know if it ever passed?

[bassin_bug]

I admit I am not an expert on different fish species, however, there seems to be a valid reason for confiscating it. Snakehead fish don't appear to be native but Asian fish and are referred to as "Fishzilla."

While the owner may have been a responsible pet fish owner, who can say DEFINITELY what may have ultimately become of it. Circumstances may, at some point, require that another person be charged with the care of it and that person decides to dump it into the first lake or river they come to. I realize this is hypothetical but still such things have happened thousands of times. That's how those giant Boa snakes have ended up in the Everglades and are reproducing at a rapid rate.

Personally I don't think it's as much about government interference in our lives as it is about protecting our natural ecosystem. Perhaps the decision was based on something like the law that says it's illegal to dump certain fish from one river or lake into another. jmo

I found this information to be thought provoking:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries...snakehead.html

[Cobra190]

Th answer would be very easy, if of course the DEC, could think of it. Have the guy register the fish. Have all other exotic animals, fish, reptiles etc. have to be registered pre-ownnership, on which they can deny. Once the snakehead has lived out it's life span, which could be very long in this case, and passes, close the file.

[JD7.62]

I admit I am not an expert on different fish species, however, there seems to be a valid reason for confiscating it. Snakehead fish don't appear to be native but Asian fish and are referred to as "Fishzilla."

While the owner may have been a responsible pet fish owner, who can say DEFINITELY what may have ultimately become of it. Circumstances may, at some point, require that another person be charged with the care of it and that person decides to dump it into the first lake or river they come to. I realize this is hypothetical but still such things have happened thousands of times. That's how those giant Boa snakes have ended up in the Everglades and are reproducing at a rapid rate.

Personally I don't think it's as much about government interference in our lives as it is about protecting our natural ecosystem. Perhaps the decision was based on something like the law that says it's illegal to dump certain fish from one river or lake into another. jmo

I found this information to be thought provoking:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries...snakehead.html

Channa microlepis are a tropical species that demand very warm water year round. The fish slows down considerably with temps down to just 70F. Prolonged exposer to 60 degree will cause health problems that will slowly kill the animal and water in the 50s or below, the animal would die very quickly. The chances of the animal surviving for more then the few warmest months of the year is litterally zero. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. Besides, even if they did survive, these fish are air breathers and will drown if they can not reach the surface...isnt ice fishing popular in NY?

The snakes in EXTREME south Florida you are referring to are reticulated pythons, which like C. microlepis are a tropical species. The pythons are restricted to extreme S. Florida and due to colder temps just slightly north.

Another great example in the S. Florida area are the Cichla sp. (C. monoculus/C. Ocellaris hybrids) aka the butterfly peacock bass. They were introduced intentionally by the .gov. Unfortunately, since peacock bass are a tropical fish with the same habitat requirements as C. microlepis, albeit on a different continent, they survive in just several canals in the Miami area, go north just a couple dozen miles and its too cold for them to survive the winter. If a tropical fish cant survive as far south as Orlando, it aint surviving in Syracuse NY depsite it being called fishzilla.

[DJD]

We caught Oscars in some of the local lakes in Orlando but as stated never heard of Peacocks but I would wish for it! We would catch more (Oscars) in the Big "O" especially around full moons.

[JD7.62]

Oh man, my dream is to go fishing in South America for some monster peacocks, Payara, and some of the GIANT catfish species they have down there. I am convinced, excuse me as I dont have a common name for the fish, Brachyplatysoma filamentosum could possibly be one of the largest if not the largest 100% freshwater boney fish in the world. The 600lb Mekong Catfish that I'm sure yall have seen pictures of circulating in emails (the giant catfish dead on the blue tarp) is currently the largest freshwater boney fish caught. I think B. filamentosum could be bigger because of that Hunt for Big Fish episode where Larry caught that eight footer he eastimated to be 400+ pounds. The Mekong Catfish are heavily pressured so catching the odd giant isnt that so far fetched, but B. filamentosum are not. Larry trekked deep deep into the jungle and fished a spot for a couple of days more then 100ft deep and caught that monster. I guess what I am trying to say is, the odds of that 8ft fish being the biggest considering they are hardly ever fished and an eight footer is caught in a short time span is small, there has to be bigger out there!