Smells very fishy to me...
Yep, the fish can pose a major problem as a invasive species in warmer states and plenty of laws in place already.
Voracious predators they may be, they are not the single handed ecosystem destroyers they are made out to be.
Yep, they're air breathers and able to move across land, BUT, they can only really move across land when it is VERY wet.
They must remain moist, particularly their breathing organ, or it is death in hours, not days.
• Yes, snakeheads can ‘breathe’ air and live out-of-water longer than most fish can, but suggestions that these fish can live without water for up to three days is a gross exaggeration.
• Yes, snakeheads can move through shallow water, swampy conditions, and even semi-fluid mud that would immobilize many native fishes. But on dry land they only flop, wriggle, and squirm their way along for short distances, after which they will die in a matter of hours, not days.
Natively, they move during monsoon season, imagine a couple inches of water dang near everywhere.
Escape artists, but if he's had'em for five years, sounds like he'd a strong tight cover on the tank so escape is probably not likely.
Even if they did, where they going? They can't open doors, they can't climb, they can barely flop around really, they would be die.
Now if the daughter is a baby, and crawled over and stuck'er hand in its mouth, she'd get bit... Break out the bandaids.
Aggressive and toothy lil btards, definitely don't dehook with your fingers.
You make them sound like a rabid venomous raccoon, that upon escape will hunt the small child and kill it... Major bull patties.
No such documented attacks by Bullseyes, just some unwary aquarists/anglers with relatively minor bites.
The only snakehead I know with a reputation for attacking people is the Giant Snakehead (up to 6' & 66lbs) in the wild when defending nests, and these are only Southeast Asian stories, no documented cases that I know of.
You've fallen prey to mass media hype and lies.
“Unfortunately, the public is reading, hearing, and seeing reports describing these fishes as ‘Frankenfish’ or the ‘fish from ****,’ said Paul Shafland, a fisheries scientist who has spent more than 30 years studying exotic fish at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Non-Native Fish Laboratory in Boca Raton. But Shafland urges the public to be skeptical about some of the things they have heard and read about these fishes, and most notably the Northern Snakehead.
According to some accounts “This alleged monster eats anything in its path, can walk on land, survive up to three days out of water, and will even attack and kill people when guarding its young!”
“That’s great story lines for Hollywood movies, but it is not accurate news” Shafland said.
No LEO is going to discharge their weapon in such a manner... Utter rubbish!
I'll say that without video or a news story linked... Your a liar.
Even venomous snakes, gators and confined dangerous animals are handled by animal control.
Not arbitrarily shot by police because someone says they're water bound Cujos.
Dangerous critter posing immediate threat, yes, fish in a tank, no.
Give me undoubted proof the police shot these fish on location and I will graciously apologize for calling you a liar.
People, please deal with facts from professionals, not internetz stories, media hype and the last episode of River Monsters.
Great debunking of this kind'a crud by the pros, here,
Scientists Challenge Snakehead Myths
