Snakehead Fish Frankenfish ...NOT in Chicago



Someone called me the other day looking for a Snakehead Fish!

It is illegal to keep snakeheads as pets in all states of the USA and other countries as they have become an invasive species due to individuals releasing them into the wild. President Bush enacted a ban in 2002, after the first snakehead appeared in Maryland.

The northern snakehead fish is said to not be a threat to humans. However, a more vicious species, the giant snakeheads have reportedly attacked and even killed people who have went near its young. They have been found in Maine, California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In 2004, a fisherman caught a single snakehead  while fishing from Lake Michigan at Burnham Harbor in Chicago!




There are a lot of urban myths surrounding these scary fish. It has this has a mouth crammed with teeth.

It’s deadly in the water, but it can also “crawl” on land and survive out of water for up to four days. - If it's kept wet.
There area actually  28 species of these crazy fish,  in the family Channidae are commonly referred to as Asian snakeheads. 

Could it, or would it attack a human?  Anything is possible I guess! There have been stories of these fish coming onto land and eating small dogs, but it has not been documented.

All I know is I wouldn't want to be swimming and run into to one of these guys!

Visit Our Chicago Aquarium  Today and Decide If Our Newest Arrivals of Freshwater Tropical and Saltwater Exotic Fish Are Just What You're Looking For!

Chicago Aquarium      5040 N. Clark Street  773-878-8474
Chicago's Best Resource For Freshwater and Saltwater Tropical Aquarium Fish and Supplies

 

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