![]() ![]() Contact Seth Herbst, DNR aquatic invasive species biologist, at 51 or for assistance in identification.Ĭopyright 2016 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. If that is not possible, take photos of the fish. If you catch an unusual fish, keep it and preserve it on ice. More information about the RIPPLE campaign and managing aquarium pets and plants is available from the Michigan Invasive Species website. “You can also check with the pet store where you purchased the fish to see if they will take it back.”Īnother option is to talk with a veterinarian or pet retailer about humane methods to dispose of the pet. “If your pacu has outgrown its tank or begun to feed on your other fish, rather than releasing it into a pond or stream, consider donating or trading it with another hobbyist, an environmental learning center, an aquarium or a zoo,” said Filice. Paige Filice of Michigan State University works with a new statewide campaign to Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes, or RIPPLE, offering solutions for aquarium and pond owners. ![]() “This includes the release of aquarium fish like pacus and goldfish, as well as farm-raised fish from private ponds.” ![]() “Invasive or not – planting fish of any kind in the waters of the state without a permit is illegal,” said Popoff. In the case of the pacu and other ornamental fish, there is another issue. In the worst-case scenario, released animals can thrive and reproduce, upsetting natural ecosystems to the degree that these former pets become invasive species.” “Those that do succeed in the wild can spread exotic diseases to native animals. Pets released from confined, artificial environments are poorly equipped to fend off predators and may be unable to successfully forage for food or find shelter,” said Nick Popoff, manager of the DNR's Aquatic Species and Regulatory Affairs Unit. Current climate data indicate this tropical, freshwater fish is unlikely to survive Great Lakes winters, but climate change may increase the possibility, according to the DNR.įinding pacus in the Great Lakes is evidence of a common dilemma – what to do when you can no longer keep an aquarium pet? Pacus are known to grow significantly, often beyond the capacity of their tanks. However, there is no evidence that breeding populations have been established in any of these locations. Pacus have been caught in lakes, ponds or creeks in at least 27 U.S. leads the world in importing ornamental fish, supporting a worldwide aquarium industry that tops $1 billion annually. Nevertheless, it often goes for a fish or a leech. The mbu puffer can easily reach over two feet in length, with a massive set of teeth to match. The red-bellied pacu, Piaractus brachypomus, is a popular aquarium fish imported from South America. Grayling is characterized by a large and colourful dorsal fin and mouth, where it has no teeth like trout. Freshwater pufferfish are rare, especially those with impressive teeth and large sizes. The DNR sites three reports of anglers reeling in pacus fish in Lake St. DETROIT – Fish with human-like teeth are being found in Michigan waters, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. ![]()
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