Introduction and Spread
It is believed that the northern snakehead fish entered the United States when aquarium owners discarded their unwanted exotic captive species into local wa... moreIntroduction and Spread
It is believed that the northern snakehead fish entered the United States when aquarium owners discarded their unwanted exotic captive species into local waterways. The fish is also an important food source in other countries and could have been intentionally released into waterways to create a local food source for fisherman here in the United States. Even though it is illegal in some states to possess a snakehead fish, they are utilized in some restaurants and are available for purchase online. Northern snakehead fish can spread by swimming underwater and are also capable of breathing out of the water to move short distances on land. Snakehead fish breeding occurs during the summer months (June to August). However, there is not a full understanding of the details of the snakehead fish reproductive cycle yet as their nesting behaviors in their introduced habitat differ from those in their native range (Gascho Landis and Lapointe 2010). Gascho Landis an... less