Could Flowerhorn's Future Invasive Fish In United States?

I notice that some countries in other side of world have problems with hybrid flowerhorns and cause native asian cichlid populations decreases. And I was wondering if they got loose in our waterways, can they become serious invasive fish, even worse than exotic tilapia and cichlids?

I think they have overbreeding too many flowerhorns lately and in my theory that in future we might have a population of flowerhorns in Southern United States. The flowerhorns are very aggressive fish and will breed each two weeks under conditions. They will threatening native sunfish and exotic cichlids populations, cause their population decreases.

I believe that it is very easy to start feral flowerhorn populations with no problems in few years. By judging how many strains that are created every year and too many flowerhorns for sale ads going on. Flowerhorns may beautiful but deadly fish.

Do you think my theory is dumb? Or is that its possible for it could be happening in future?

Edited by butch, 10 October 2008 - 05:52 PM.

There are wild populations in FL I believe. What would be the difference between this fish and any other invasive?

Oh I did not know that they were already flowerhorn populations in Florida. When did it happened?

Do they affect the native waterways very much or replace other cichlids with themselves in Florida?

Native asian cichlids?

Flowerhorns are very expensive, but they don't all turn out well. I can certainly see the possibility of improper disposal of the bad ones, but then again, I would have thought the breeders would just use them as food for the good ones. However, if they did get introduced, they'd have to slug it out with all the other established exotic species already in place, and I don't think they'd ever become any more a problem than the others. In fact, I'd go so far to say that at this point it's too late to consider many new exotics in south florida as any real problem anymore; they'd just be adding to the exotic stew. Another big cichlid moves to the Everglades? About all they'll find to eat are other exotics and plenty of competition.

On the plus side, they're very pretty and quite sizable, so they'd probably wind up just another popular panfish for the anglers to catch along with the Oscars.

Me, cynical?

Native asian cichlids?

Flowerhorns are very expensive, but they don't all turn out well. I can certainly see the possibility of improper disposal of the bad ones, but then again, I would have thought the breeders would just use them as food for the good ones. However, if they did get introduced, they'd have to slug it out with all the other established exotic species already in place, and I don't think they'd ever become any more a problem than the others. In fact, I'd go so far to say that at this point it's too late to consider many new exotics in south florida as any real problem anymore; they'd just be adding to the exotic stew. Another big cichlid moves to the Everglades? About all they'll find to eat are other exotics and plenty of competition.

On the plus side, they're very pretty and quite sizable, so they'd probably wind up just another popular panfish for the anglers to catch along with the Oscars.

Me, cynical?

Oh the native asian cichlids....the Asia does have native cichlids but flowerhorns replaced the native cichlids with themselves.

Apart from India and a few Middle Eastern countries there is no other native cichlid in Asia. In all other area in Asia all cichlids in the wild are introduced.