Exotic Aquarium Fish Species Caught in Lake Hortonia

WATERBURY, VT -- An out-of-state angler fishing for bass in Lake Hortonia, Rutland County, Vermont, caught more than he bargained for in late August when he reeled in a nine-inch fish called an "oscar."

The oscar, a member of the Cichlid family, is native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems of South America. It has also long been a popular aquarium fish, and is widely found in pet shops and private aquaria across the country.

"This fish was likely someone's pet, at one time," said District Fisheries Biologist Shawn Good. "Oscars, as well as many other common aquarium species, can grow quite large in captivity. Unfortunately, when pet fish outgrow their aquarium, the first reaction of many owners may be to release them into a nearby waterbody, thinking that they are doing their pet a favor by setting them free."

This happened in Florida with devastating results. Oscars first appeared in the Miami canals in the late 1950s after a deliberate release of aquarium fish. Oscars are now widely established throughout south Florida and they are now the dominant fish species in the Everglades. They reproduce rapidly and are extremely aggressive when feeding.

Before the oscar spread to the Everglades, largemouth bass were the predominant fish species. Today, the more aggressive oscar has brought the bass down a notch in the food chain pecking order. Now the bass aren't as big or as plentiful as they once were. Oscars compete better than largemouth for food, and they also eat a large percentage of the bass fry hatched each year.
Illegal aquarium releases are a common source of exotic species introductions in the U.S. From the snakehead, a voracious fish from Asia, to Eurasian milfoil, an aquatic plant that grows in dense mats, over 38 species of unwanted fish and dozens of plants, crayfish, and snails have become established in waters of the U.S. by aquarium releases. These species not only impact native aquatic ecosystems, but they also affect the economy and recreational activities that rely on these ecosystems. While environmental and economic consequences for most exotic species are unknown, impacts of some infestations have cost millions of dollars for control and management.
Earlier this summer, a Middlebury College professor found a tropical catfish in Lake Dunmore. It is illegal to release aquarium and many other fish species to Vermont state waters. The potential penalty for unlawful introduction of fish to Vermont waters is a $500.00 fine.
"It seems that the general public is largely unaware of the dangers posed by releasing aquarium fish into Vermont's waters," said Good. "I can't stress enough how serious this is," he added. "Some aquarium fish, plants and other aquatic animals such as exotic snails can devastate Vermont's natural habitats and severely impact our native aquatic ecosystems if they are released into the wild. They may also introduce dangerous disease organisms that can severely impact native fish and wildlife populations."
"In this case, the oscar that was released into Lake Hortonia is not capable of surviving in cold climates and likely would have died over the winter," added Good. "However, if it had been a northern snakehead someone had released, it would be an altogether different situation. We would potentially be faced with the task of reclaiming Lake Hortonia with a pesticide to eradicate the species. Unfortunately, reclaiming the lake would involve killing not just the exotic aquarium fish, but all the native fish in the lake as well."
Rather than releasing unwanted aquarium fish and plants into the wild, Good advises other more environmentally sound approaches. "You can give them to another aquarium owner, advertise to give them away, or donate them to a public facility, nursing home, or business that has an aquarium or water garden."
"If these options are not available, you can dispose of the fish by placing it in a container of water and putting it into the freezer. Because cold temperature is a natural anesthetic to tropical fishes, this is considered a very humane method of euthanasia," said Good.
New sightings of exotic species should be reported immediately to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department at 802-241-3700, or a local Fish & Wildlife District office.

For more information on the dangers and risks of releasing aquarium pets and plants into the wild, please visit Habitattitude's website at ( http://www.habitattitude.net ).

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Caption for attached photo:
This "oscar," a South American native commonly kept by tropical fish enthusiasts, was caught August 22 in Vermont's Lake Hortonia by an angler who was fishing for bass. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is asking people NOT to release unwanted aquarium fish and plants into the wild.


For Further Information please contact: Shawn Good at 802-786-3863 or email to shawn.good@state.vt.us