10 replies to this topic

[strat guy]

Stepped out there again today, water pattern has changed dramatically with the plant growth. Got something interesting this time...

 

 

Wasn't expecting that. Thought it was a pike or a pickerel or maybe an eel at first. It was about 7" long, really interesting fish.

I also got 3 black bullheads, which I think probably settles the issue about the dead one being a brown bullhead the last time. Got some new tank additions too, a Pimephales pair, male and female and another load of topminnows. I'm going to have to get some pictures of those. Seems like two different species, but I only see black striped minnows in my area. If its not a different species, then there must be changes in appearance in different locales, these minnows have a much more significantly well defined stripe, as opposed to my previous batch from a different place, where the stripe is extremely jagged both above and below the lateral line. I'll get a pic once my camera battery charges.

[NotCousteau]

Wow, that's nuts. I know dojos are cool/cold water, but I've never heard of them being invasive. What's the status/history in your state?

Edited by NotCousteau, 16 May 2015 - 01:34 AM.

[BenCantrell]

Wow, crazy, that loach is huge!

 

Male blackstripe topminnows have the jagged stripe, females have the plain stripe.

 

 

[Matt DeLaVega]

Starhead are the only other Fundulus up that way aren't they? You would know for sure that they were a different species. Sounds like Ben has the answer.

 

Is that the same as a weather loach? I knew weather loach were established up there. Is this something different or new?

[darter]

Looks  like LEPIDOCEPHAICHTHYS GUNTEA (DOJO LOACH)  it grows to over 6 ins that comes from Pakistan to Thailand

[Mike]

I know the Oriental Weatherfish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is established in the Chicago Land area along with the North-West corner of Indiana.

 

It is different from the European Weather Loach Misgurnus fossilis, but I am not familiar with LEPIDOCEPHAICHTHYS GUNTEA (DOJO LOACH).

 

That one is more spotted than the one I caught.

[Matt DeLaVega]

 Google is calling Dogo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Also calling it oriental weather loach and pond loach. Dang common names.

 

I assume though that this is nothing new. Been there a while. Are they causing any problems? Obviously they are not having the impact of round goby, or you would hear more about them.

[Matt DeLaVega]

Are they illegal to possess in the US now? I do not see any for sale on Aquabid.

[Betta132]

Dojo loaches (at least, the kind I've seen) are still legal. They're quite common, so that might be why they aren't on Aquabid.

Could that just be someone's released pet? 

It's definitely large for its kind, but unless they breed like mad, I don't think a few dojo loaches would hurt a river. It's not like they'll eat all the natives or mess up the plants, they're little wiggly shrimp-eaters. 

[strat guy]

Ben- Thanks, that solves that. I figured it was something along those lines, but I only know of sexing by looking at pointed anal and dorsal fins on the male. Helps a lot.

 

INHS has the fish listed as Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, which Google calls the Pond/Dojo/Weather loach. The only reason I knew what it was was because I've searched INHS for all the species available in my immediate area and was therefore able to recognize it immediately. They're completely legal to sell, pet stores sell them as "Dojo loach," they're quite popular, and have been in the aquarium trade for many, many years. INHS has their habitats in Illinois listed as North Shore channel (which I want to fish REALLY badly), Midlothian Creek, North Branch Chicago River, Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary & Ship canal, and North Creek.

One thing that kinda confuses me about INHS is that I think they're merging three rivers. The Des Plaines, the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal, and the I&M Canal are all separate waterways. I can't tell if INHS is merging the shipping canal with the Des Plaines and calling the I&M by the Shipping Canal's name, or if they're merging the Shipping Canal with the I&M. I would never touch the shipping canal. There are signs by the Lockport bridge warning you not to come into contact with the water. However, the I&M is fine. I would like to know which one is which, because they have listed the Shipping canal as the only place in IL to catch three spined sticklebacks, and I wouldn't mind having a pair, but I don't know which system is the right one to look in.

[NateTessler13]

The loaches have been there for a little while.  A few years back, I met up with Uland to seine in the Des Plaines River.  He was flipping over rocks in a shallow backwater area looking for them.