Hi everybody,
I came across this link during a discussion about the extinct Blue Pike (Sander vitreus glaucus). As we know (assume), the Blue Pike is no longer part of our living fish fauna. However, researchers at the University of Wisconsin are conducting studies about blue protein found in Walleyes in lakes & streams in Ontario. This topic is of interest to me because, in my aquarium at Bass Pro Shops, when a Walleye starts to show signs of stress, it'll often take on a blue hue. When I remove the fish, its scales and fins appear to be blue. (I'll upload pictures when I can). They aren't saying that Walleye that produce this blue protein (named Sandercyanin) makes these fish related to the extinct, Blue Pike. That was the misconception that I was hearing from the other conversation I was having. People were confusing these as Blue Pike. It seems like its a seasonal protein made by the fish, however, I don't know if they've determined the exact reason this protein might be useful to the fish. (*At the end of the paper that is present in the link, the researcher states that more studies are being done on the exact usefulness of the protein).

Here's the link: Blue Walleye

Just thought I'd share, and if it's old news, I apologize.

-Nate

Edited by NateTessler13, 16 November 2008 - 09:53 AM.

Here's a picture of what I was talking about when a Walleye shows stress in my aquarium. The scales and the fins became blue. Especially near the back end of the fish.

Very interesting, same thing with "odd" colored sunfish such as blue bluegills except they dont have blue slime.

Very interesting, same thing with "odd" colored sunfish such as blue bluegills except they dont have blue slime.

Hmmm....never seen that before.

Maybe the blue pike was simply regular walleye that were caught with large nets and while being pulled up displayed a blueish hue.

Hmmm....never seen that before.

I've seen a blue slime on some Canadian walleye when I thawed them out for taxidermy purposes. (I'm a fish taxidermist among other things.)

But I only remember seeing this once or twice.

Edited by az9, 05 December 2008 - 09:47 PM.

This does call into question the historic existence of blue pike.

I almost caught a blue walleye/sauger in the Susquehanna below holtwood dam. My brother saw it too and commented on how the fish looked weird. I was roughly 16" long, robust with a blue sheen and a big black blotch on its flank typical of sauger. This would surely seem typical anywhere else but it is my understanding that sauger are very rare in the lower susquehanna. Could be the same as the aforementioned blue hued walleye. I wish I had gotten a picture but it got off as I was going to grab it.

Edited by bart, 05 December 2008 - 10:16 PM.

Well not necessarily. Occasionally in trout hatcheries rainbows take on a blue color.

http://www.necn.com/...206712703.html#

This does call into question the historic existence of blue pike.

Nah, they definitely existed as recently as the early 1960's.