Psa About Releasing Fish Into Rivers

So my family and I were taking a walk down the San Antonio River, and we stopped to look at some ducks and ducklings on a bank. As one swam into the water I noticed several very large common plecos eating a dense layer of algae. I counted, and there were at least 5, almost certainly more.

However, plecos aren’t native here. In the past, many fishkeepers in the southern US released their plecos into streams when they got too big for their tanks. In many places these plecos have established breeding populations, and are a serious pest. They are eating machines and outcompete many other local fish for food, have few predators, and because they’re not that edible there isn’t much reason for people to fish for them, so they’ve basically got free reign over the rivers they’ve been introduced to.
Additionally their burrowing habits are thought to cause significant erosion in Florida, but I’m not sure if that’s actually a thing.

So just keep in mind, if your fish is too big for your tank and you can't give it away, don’t release it, because it could completely wreck the ecosystem for years to come.

A photo of said plecos:


If you look closely you can see they’ve completely removed a thick layer of algae from the concrete bottom.

 

I totally agree but how awesomely cool! And, unfortunately, they are pretty good eating according to hubby. When I was with catfish research in the US, we found a pond that was just full of these commons. The biggest was over two ft long. They drained the pond and got all the fish sorted out. Lots of plecos, lots of common and comet goldfish. Very few bluegill, native cats or bass. The owner had been restocking every year and couldn’t understand why he didn’t have big fish anymore. Had caught big goldfish but didn’t expect what we found. The largest plecos and all the goldies went to university. The smallest plecos went to LFS. The rest of the plecos became dinner for the guys. I refused to try it but they loved it. His smaller pond was also full of “pet” fish. It was also being choked with parrots feather. So please don’t dump any pet into the wild. And many aquarium/pond plants are incredibly invasive. Be responsible.

 

Totally agree. Over here we've lost many native species thanks to the owners of:

goldfish
red-eared sliders
plecos
minnows/danios
puffers (non native)
livebearers

Just to name a few

 

Most people just think it’s a fish and fish live in water and don’t th8nk about the destruction.

Same happened with the lion fish and snakeheads. They are basically destroying the ecosystem.

I think that large plecos should be illegalized or restricted in the US for this. Same with lionfish. Snakeheads are already illegalized and they are ordered to be killed in sight.
We should do the same for larger, destructive plecos and lionfish. It will be easier to control their wild populations if they are restricted to only people who can’t properly care for them or illegalized.

Common plecos are very invasive in Houston.

I know of a LFS that sells commons at 12+ in regularly.

In creeks and rivers just outside of the city, they are as abundant as mosquitos.

During Hurricane Harvey, a man caught a common pleco in his living room!

This really shows how much of an issue they are.

 

Yeah, they’re a really bad issue. With lionfish you have more press focusing on them, and they’re apparently super delicious so people are allowed, even implored to kill on sight (I think) With plecos, theyre less well known and as such are bigger problems.
We should make a petition to outlaw selling/keeping common plecos in the US and send it to Congress once we get enough signatures. Then maybe the fact that we sent it at all will spread awareness.

 

Yeah, they’re a really bad issue. With lionfish you have more press focusing on them, and they’re apparently super delicious so people are allowed, even implored to kill on sight (I think) With plecos, theyre less well known and as such are bigger problems.
We should make a petition to outlaw selling/keeping common plecos in the US and send it to Congress once we get enough signatures. Then maybe the fact that we sent it at all will spread awareness.

That's really not a bad idea. Especially because so few of them are actually taken care of properly that the species has become rather abused in the hobby.

 

That's pretty sad. I hate when these things happen.

 

Yeah, they’re a really bad issue. With lionfish you have more press focusing on them, and they’re apparently super delicious so people are allowed, even implored to kill on sight (I think) With plecos, theyre less well known and as such are bigger problems.
We should make a petition to outlaw selling/keeping common plecos in the US and send it to Congress once we get enough signatures. Then maybe the fact that we sent it at all will spread awareness.

Since you’re in Austin and I know a lot of member stuff from Texas, we could start small with our state and let it slowly spread around the country.

They are only really a problem in southern states and HawaiI because they can easily survive the winters. Same reason why freshwater rays are illegal in Texas.

 

Totally agree. Over here we've lost many native species thanks to the owners of:

goldfish
red-eared sliders
plecos
minnows/danios
puffers (non native)
livebearers

Just to name a few

Yeah the southeast here has lost so much to the giant apple snail. I want to go out and get another one so bad. Takes such a big tank if you get two though. Boy, what a bioload! They’ve hurt our native snail pops, a lot of native water plants, crayfish. But in the aquarium they’re totally adorable. And there’s something so cool about holding a snail as big as your forearm. But they’re definitely pests in the wild here. They have no predators.

 

No, don’t ban them in the US. That’s a terrible idea.

 

What’s sad is that people think they can solve invasive species with more potentially invasive species.

I remember watching a YouTube video on why snakeheads were a big problem in Florida and somebody commented that we should release a ton of pirhanas to take care of them...

 

Most people just think it’s a fish and fish live in water and don’t th8nk about the destruction.

Same happened with the lion fish and snakeheads. They are basically destroying the ecosystem.

I think that large plecos should be illegalized or restricted in the US for this. Same with lionfish. Snakeheads are already illegalized and they are ordered to be killed in sight.
We should do the same for larger, destructive plecos and lionfish. It will be easier to control their wild populations if they are restricted to only people who can’t properly care for them or illegalized.

Common plecos are very invasive in Houston.

I know of a LFS that sells commons at 12+ in regularly.

In creeks and rivers just outside of the city, they are as abundant as mosquitos.

During Hurricane Harvey, a man caught a common pleco in his living room!

This really shows how much of an issue they are.

I agree. And large fish shouldn’t be sold to people buying a ten or twenty gallon aquarium for them. Make it illegal to sell them. End it.

 

No, don’t ban them in the US. That’s a terrible idea.

Why? Most people can't even look after them properly

 

No, don’t ban them in the US. That’s a terrible idea.

Then maybe a restriction?

I would push to either ban them or restrict them to people who actually are capable of taking care of them and not release them.

 

Yeah, they’re a really bad issue. With lionfish you have more press focusing on them, and they’re apparently super delicious so people are allowed, even implored to kill on sight (I think) With plecos, theyre less well known and as such are bigger problems.
We should make a petition to outlaw selling/keeping common plecos in the US and send it to Congress once we get enough signatures. Then maybe the fact that we sent it at all will spread awareness.

Post it on twitter, I’ll sign!

 

Why? Most people can't even look after them properly

Once the governement gets involved things get screwy. Be careful what one asks for.The US banned snakeheads, sure, but they banned every species.

 

I agree. And large fish shouldn’t be sold to people buying a ten or twenty gallon aquarium for them. Make it illegal to sell them. End it.

That would make a lot of aquarium fish illegal to keep.

It might work for inexperienced keepers, but advanced keepers are capable of keeping larger fish and shouldn’t be deprived.

Kinda like at what scarface said.
Illegalizing them completely wouldn’t be a good idea.

I think we should restrict them.

EDIT: An example is Florida(sorry to pick on you!). Silver arowana are restricted and keepers need a permit. They were introduced into Florida waterways nd are now restricted.

Also, a YouTuber filmed himself releasing invasive species into Florida waterways. These species were redtail catfish and silver arowana. I think his name was Catchemall Fishing or something like that.

 

No, don’t ban them in the US. That’s a terrible idea.

It’s really the only way to keep them out of the hands of irresponsible dealers and owners. Not saying those who already have them in adequate habitats should give them up. Just make it illegal to sell invasive species. We have parrots, parakeets, pythons, boas, common plecos, apple snails, goldfish, parrots feather, mile-a-minute vine, Japanese climbing vine, kudzu and a whole bunch more just in our area. It’s horrible.

What’s sad is that people think they can solve invasive species with more potentially invasive species.

I remember watching a YouTube video on why snakeheads were a big problem in Florida and somebody commented that we should release a ton of pirhanas to take care of them...

It never works. Ever.

 

You guys are saying ban common plecos, without knowing there are other species of plecos that get much bigger that don’t go under the “common” name. Should we ban them too? How about Silver Arowanas or bichirs? I prefer the idea of more restrction or leave it to the states, not the Federal government.

 

Also for the lionfish invasion, I think some scientist were training native sharks to eat lionfish. They were fed dead lionfish and the scientists hoped that they would predate on them. I’m not sure how this ended up, but I remember watching it on Shark Week 2 years ago.

 

You guys are saying ban common plecos, without knowing there are other species of plecos that get much bigger that don’t go under the “common” name. Should we ban them too? How about Silver Arowanas or bichirs? I prefer the idea of more restrction or leave it to the states, not the Federal government.

I’ve heard about silver arowana being invasive but not bichirs!
I did a bit of research and they are invasive mainly in Florida(again).

 

Once the governement gets involved things get screwy. Be careful what one asks for.The US banned snakeheads, sure, but they banned every species.

I do agree the govt is screwy. Like when they started “ridding” the south of kudzu, they used extremely strong herbicides. People applying the herbicides got sicknesses, cancer. Animals were dying from eating the treated kudzu. But when the root can be as big as a fairly large house, treating a portion of leaves isn’t going to kill it. Just everything else.

 

That would make a lot of aquarium fish illegal to keep.

It might work for inexperienced keepers, but advanced keepers are capable of keeping larger fish and shouldn’t be deprived.

Kinda like at what scarface said.
Illegalizing them completely wouldn’t be a good idea.

I think we should restrict them.

EDIT: An example is Florida(sorry to pick on you!). Silver arowana are restricted and keepers need a permit. They were introduced into Florida waterways nd are now restricted.

Also, a YouTuber filmed himself releasing invasive species into Florida waterways. These species were redtail catfish and silver arowana. I think his name was Catchemall Fishing or something like that.

I don’t have a problem with restrictions but how to you get the money makers to turn down money just because they know the buyer is clueless?

 

I don’t have a problem with restrictions but how to you get the money makers to turn down money just because they know the buyer is clueless?

I don’t think there will really ever be a way.
The only way to prevent is knowledge. If everybody spreads it, it can help.

 

Yikes, it's sad people still do this. My suburban neighborhood has a large pond/man-made lake, was walking along there one day and saw a huge golden shape out in the water. Probably a koi or carp of some sort, looked even bigger than a common. No question where that came from

I've also dived at Fantasy Lake here in NC a few times, it's an old quarry that filled up so thankfully I don't think it's connected to any natural waterways. There are a couple of huge white carp living in there. Also lots of native bluegills and small schoolers, but think of the damage if any more pets are released.

 

I don’t think there will really ever be a way.
The only way to prevent is knowledge. If everybody spreads it, it can help.

I do wish there was some way to stop dumping invasive species, unwanted pets etc. many states have laws but they’re incomplete, random or just not enforced. I saw a couple of men dump a laundry basket of kittens between a four lane and a subdivision. I followed the car and got their tag number. Called the law and SURPRISE! it’s not illegal in Alabama to dump cats. Just dogs. Then they whine about the feral cat problem.

 

The best way to deal with invasive species (excluding plants and poisonous toads) is eat them! I love eating any and every game fish, "trash" fish included. Heck I've eaten my fair share of pest rodents and other "vermin" people will kill but let go to waste. Only things I refuse to eat are coyotes and cats. Just can't get over the similarities to the family furry babies.

 

The best way to deal with invasive species (excluding plants and poisonous toads) is eat them! I love eating any and every game fish, "trash" fish included. Heck I've eaten my fair share of pest rodents and other "vermin" people will kill but let go to waste. Only things I refuse to eat are coyotes and cats. Just can't get over the similarities to the family furry babies.

Hey, kudzu and dandelion are edible!

 

At our local lake, there are informative signs scattered along the path. One explicitly warns people of the harms of releasing goldfish. The volunteers (myself included ) have trawled out more than 200 goldfish in the past two years. I bring some to my uni. We have a lake full of 'em.

 

Hey, kudzu and dandelion are edible!

I don't think we have kudzu in Michigan but dandelions are plentiful yet riddled with small insects that seem to be a hassle picking off. I'll stick to my garden, at least I know what's what w/o having to carry a field guide in fear of killing myself from deadly look-a-likes I already have a mushroom field guide that has led to some rather interesting culinary adventures.

 

The volunteers (myself included ) have trawled out more than 200 goldfish in the past two years.

 

What’s sad is that people think they can solve invasive species with more potentially invasive species.

I remember watching a YouTube video on why snakeheads were a big problem in Florida and somebody commented that we should release a ton of pirhanas to take care of them...

Wouldn't work. The Snakeheads would make short work of the Piranhas.

 

Invasive spices, come to sunny FL., they are in the sky, land and water, we have a small population of monk parrots, Madagascar geckos but I like the geckos on my shops and house and those I will not kill. I live in north west FL. now. The wild hogs never get to live [sausage],I use to shoot English starling a while back by the 100's no dent, we have lion fish by the 1000's which cannot be allowed to be released back to the wiled , when I lived in south FL. you have parrots, parakeet and others in the air, pythons, boa constrictors, anaconda's and fishing all the cichlids you can catch: Oscars, pleco's, peacock bass, fire mouth, walking catfish and snakeheads, all of which is good eating or kill it and feed to gators. It can never be aloud to return alive, most of what I have listed I have eaten [very good].

 

Invasive spices, come to sunny FL., they are in the sky, land and water, we have a small population of monk parrots, Madagascar geckos but I like the geckos on my shops and house and those I will not kill. I live in north west FL. now. The wild hogs never get to live [sausage],I use to shoot English starling a while back by the 100's no dent, we have lion fish by the 1000's which cannot be allowed to be released back to the wiled , when I lived in south FL. you have parrots, parakeet and others in the air, pythons, boa constrictors, anaconda's and fishing all the cichlids you can catch: Oscars, pleco's, peacock bass, fire mouth, walking catfish and snakeheads, all of which is good eating or kill it and feed to gators. It can never be aloud to return alive, most of what I have listed I have eaten [very good].

You left out the Rhesus monkeys living along the Silver river that escaped from a Tarzan movie set many years ago. 1933 to be exact. The colony is still thriving.

Also for the lionfish invasion, I think some scientist were training native sharks to eat lionfish. They were fed dead lionfish and the scientists hoped that they would predate on them. I’m not sure how this ended up, but I remember watching it on Shark Week 2 years ago.

Lionfish are well protected from predation by their venomous spines.

 

Hey, kudzu and dandelion are edible!

Have you tried either? If you like turnip greens mixed with collards, you’ve got dandelion. If you like school paste, you’ve got kudzu. If I had to live off the land sure. But, right now anyway, there’s still grocery stores.

At our local lake, there are informative signs scattered along the path. One explicitly warns people of the harms of releasing goldfish. The volunteers (myself included ) have trawled out more than 200 goldfish in the past two years. I bring some to my uni. We have a lake full of 'em.

Shocked!

I don't think we have kudzu in Michigan but dandelions are plentiful yet riddled with small insects that seem to be a hassle picking off. I'll stick to my garden, at least I know what's what w/o having to carry a field guide in fear of killing myself from deadly look-a-likes I already have a mushroom field guide that has led to some rather interesting culinary adventures.

Have any amanitas?

 

I saw a video on youtube were the plecos were invading ponds! In my city they had a news article on how goldfish in ponds didnt die after the pond Completely froze over....

Found it
Goldfish causing headaches

Omg I'm shook, I remember going to a natural cave and hot springs site in the mountains and seeing tropcial fish!!!! This was before my hobby and now it says there were wild guppys (kinda rare) , mollys (there were a few) and chiclids (a bit) and tons of mosquito fish ( A tON) !!!!! Is this natural or did someone release em? I remember now them jumping up a stream and swimming near the pathway <3
A Visit to the Cave and Basin area of Banff National Park

 

I saw a video on youtube were the plecos were invading ponds! In my city they had a news article on how goldfish in ponds didnt die after the pond Completely froze over....

Found it
Goldfish causing headaches

Omg I'm shook, I remember going to a natural cave and hot springs site in the mountains and seeing tropcial fish!!!! This was before my hobby and now it says there were wild guppys (kinda rare) , mollys (there were a few) and chiclids (a bit) and tons of mosquito fish ( A tON) !!!!! Is this natural or did someone release em? I remember now them jumping up a stream and swimming near the pathway <3
A Visit to the Cave and Basin area of Banff National Park

It depends where you were. Guppies are from Trinidad. Is that where you were?

 

Yep monkeys from Tarzan, we use to see them canoeing.

 

Anything non native to your local area, be it fish, invert or plant should never be released into the wild, if they find conditions conducive to survival they will screw up native species almost every time.

 

OMGosh. You have me watching videos of lionfish and snakeheads and people go into the water and spear them and collect them, why? Poor little fish.

So weird this topic came up. I was chatting with a lady from a craiglist ad in my area and it led to her telling me she had land snails (do not know if they are invasive) but her single one mated with itself (guess these types of land snails have both sexes in them) and she became overwhelmed with babies, so she put them into the local pond or river.