Snakehead rescue

[xrayjeeper83]

Just to play devil's advocate but this fish is an illegal invasive species. Please do not try to ship it to another country. AFAIK Canada does not have these fish in our waters. It would be irresponsible to send it over here because you never know who will get it.

Keep it in the States where they are already found and find someone who's willing to take the risk. I also believe that you need some sort of a permit to send it across the border.

In the US they are illegal and not a natural creature. If they are caught in the wild they are supposed to be killed

[~reefchik~]

Just curious, illegal to keep or illegal to sell, or both?

I would think that Monsterfishkeepers might have a section where people could find a new home, right? I haven't been a member there long, but that seems like the sort of venue for this fish. I had a snakehead once, too. NIMFT (my new acronym learned from RTR ) ever again. Killed most of my african cichlids before I realized what was going on.

[xrayjeeper83]

I believe both but not for certain. And the reason i say both is that if you look on MFK at the snakehead section, you will not see a single owner that lives in the US

[side19]

well i got some more info but couldn't see the fish today. it's six years old and is currently in a 5 gallon. it was with guppies and a betta and killed them all so the owner wants to get rid of it. i guess it was her boyfriend's and he just dumped it on her when they broke up. as far as the law goes the only thing i could find was that its illegal to sell or purchase them within the us. as far as owning one or giving it away i couldn't find anything. i also did find that if you catch one while fishing you are legally obligated to kill it on the spot. i thought i had found an owner (through my friend josh, one of his coworkers was interested) but that fell through once he realized how big they can get. at the moment i'm getting a large rubbermaid bin and giving it to the owner so it at least has something larger to live in until it can find a new home. thanks for the help everyone. also, are there any species that actually do just naturally stay small? perhaps its one of those species. i just can't believe it got stunted at 6 inches and then never got any bigger over 6 years and still managed to survive. i know these are hardy fish, but to survive that kind of damage for that long seems crazy. oh and it only has one eye. no back story to how it lost the other one.

[Cuchulainn]

Wow 6 inches, and living in a 5 gallon ;(
That's awesome that U are getting a tub for it though!

[side19]

yeah i feel horrible for it. i cant image how cramped it must be. as far as setting up a tub for it, can i just put the heater right on the bottom of the tub or should i rest it on something else? can the heater get hot enough to melt the plastic? what else should i get for the little guy to make the tub a suitable short term home?

[xrayjeeper83]

hell mail it to me, if its 5 years old and only 6 inchs i dont see it getting much bigger and i got a empty 55

[side19]

ok so i'm still doing more research and i found a few sites saying it is illegal to even possess them in CT, but they aren't government websites. so here go some more questions. is it really illegal to just possess them? if so how much is the fine and what will they do with the fish? and how would the state ever find out you're housing this thing? i read some guy got caught after 11 years and got fined $500 and the fish was confiscated, but this was in NY. i'm wondering if its really worth the risk finding it a new home now.

[Brandon8521]

X-Ray, your in florida where the outbreak is the worst. You could prob go to your local stream and snag one up if it wasnt illegal not to kill it.

If the aquarium doesnt tank it then honostly -and sad to say- I would give it its last swim in clove oil. Its an enteresting fish and really should have been given a long healthy life, but to save everyone from any legal issues and help out your own natural environment, its the best option.

[Brandon8521]

if so how much is the fine and what will they do with the fish? and how would the state ever find out you're housing this thing?

Is it worth finding out the hard way what the fine is? You are posting this on the internet.

[J-P]

I don't know how may of us here on TPF are actually snakehead experts, much less lawyers and savvy in inter state shipping, cross boarder shipping and CITES regulations vs. invasive species.

The best ppl to ask are the authorities, your natural resources department, and if in doubt.. say nothing and sell it under the table

[Brandon8521]

I dont know every state's laws. I live 10 minutes from Lake Wieley, here in SC, and not even 3 years ago was when the first one was caught here. Ever since then its been all over the news quite often and its a really big fine for haveing one in your posession without takeing it to the gamewarden.

[side19]

yeah, sadly it does seem the risk out weighs the benefits of saving the little guy. i just hate to see such a beautiful fish get put to waste just becuase of some laws. i understand the whole risk to the environment factor (took conservation bio last semester and am thinking about making that my major now), but i still feel bad. it's not their fault they got brought over here and just happen to be so well suited for life in our country. i guess i'll just get some clove oil and tell the person how to let it down humanely. poor little guy

[xrayjeeper83]

so sad, they are such cool looking fish.

[side19]

ok, there's one last hope by the look of it. there is a permit out there that allows the possession of snakeheads for educational, medical, or zoological purposes. now here's where i need help, is this permit available in CT, and if so how much is it? i read a story about a man in clay NY who was able to get the permit, but is said it cost $500 there. if anyone can help me find this info it'd be great. i would call fish and game in CT, but i am a little paranoid they will come and search me and i will in some way get in trouble even though the fish isn't in my possession.