> 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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