Snakehead Fish Research Paper

Intruding on the fresh water of six US states, roams the scaled head, large mouth, razor sharp teeth and protruding lower jaws of the Snakehead Fish. The life cycle of The Snakehead fish begins between June and July when females begin spawning. The female fish may lay up to 15,000 eggs one to five times per year. After 1 to 2 days, the eggs will hatch and be guarded by both parents. They feed on small crustaceans and fish larvae. Young may be golden brown or pale gray, darkening as they grow older, reaching sexual maturity at 2 years old.

The Snakehead Fish is indigenous to the fresh waters of Eastern Asia, however in 2002 they were discovered to have established a population in Maryland. It is believed that they invaded indigenous species

Luckily, there are potential solutions and ways to control and remove this destructive intruder. Even though physical removal of the fish using nets, traps, angling, electrofishing or biological control by introduction of predators are not likely to be successful for large infestations, they can help control small amounts at a time. In addition to the threat of their predatory behavior and its resulting impacts, there is also a large concern about snakeheads ' transference of pathogens to native fish. Snakeheads carry a disease known as Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome which can be carried and transferred to the native fish, deteriorating their population. At first, when a fish gets Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome they will develop red spots on the skin. These lesions expand to form ulcers and extensive erosions filled with necrotic tissue and mycelium. This is followed by the development of granulomas on the internal organs and eventually