Re: [RML] Feral weather loaches

Mach Fukada (fukada at aloha.net)
Wed, 2 May 2001 17:29:48 -1000

They are also fairly drought tolerant. Dried up streams I would find them
under rocks and in wet areas. They have the ability to breath air. Make
good bait for bass, barracuda, jacks, etc. Also edible Placed into a pot of
hot/boiling water and a block of cold tofu,t eh fish all burrow into the
tofu to escape the heat. They were apparently brought to Hawaii by either
the Japanese or Chinese immigrants for this purpose. They are well
established in all water ways in Hawaii.
MTF
----- Original Message -----
From: <PETER.UNMACK at ASU.Edu>
To: <rainbowfish at pcug.org.au>
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 4:53 AM
Subject: Re: [RML] Feral weather loaches

> On Wed, 2 May 2001, Bruce Hansen wrote:
>
> > BTW I haven't heard of any reports yet of any deleterious effects of
this
> > fish on native species or on the environment - I presume that is because
> > funds haven't been allocated for a comprehensive assessment.
>
> Basically Bruce is correct, there really hasn't been any work done on
their
> effects anywhere (they are also common in parts of the USA). They can
reach
> pretty extreme densities, although that tends to only be in certain
habitats.
> Their preference based on my experiences is billabongs with lots of
organic
> stuff on the bottom such as what you get from having a lot of reeds. I
> suspect this is because they can easily bury into that stuff. Might also
be
> that those are just the easiest places to catch them too. The main
concern is
> that they could potentially be very effective eaters on fish eggs.
>
> Tootles
> Peter J Unmack peter.unmack at asu.edu
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> DESERT FISHES RULE: To boldly thrive where no other fish can make it!
>
> Desert Springs Action Committee at http://www.tkphotos.com/dsac/
> Desert Fishes Council http://www.utexas.edu/depts/tnhc/.www/fish/dfc
> Australian Desert Fishes as above just add australi or click on Australia
> Australian Freshwater Fish Biogeography at http://www.peter.unmack.net/biogeog
> North American Native Fishes Association at http://www.nanfa.org
> Native Fish Australia at http://www.nativefish.asn.au
> Aquatic Conservation Network at http://www.acn.ca
>
> "The biggest cause of trouble in the world today is that the stupid
> people are so sure about things and the intelligent folks are so full
> of doubts." -Bertrand Russell