Anyone know what this is?

[seanymph]

My neighbor found a lot of these in his pond when he got it dug out again cause the sides collapsed a few weeks ago. Does anyone recognize what it is?

[alex1young]

Good question! How large is it and does he know what species of fish should be in the pond?

[seanymph]

About 4"long. He only stocked Koi in it. Just a small pond behind his house. He went to corporate extension with it and they didn't know what it was.

[Steve.e]

It looks like a pirate fish due to it's tail. Is the dorsal fin folded down or it doesn't have one? They are an endangered species I think. They stopped a bridge reconstruction in North Greece once many moons ago due to the presence of pirate perch in the creek.

[hermit]

Worst case it's a baby snakehead but I don't know enough to say for sure.  Definitely has some characteristics.  See pics here http://www.fishwild.vt.edu/snakeheads/nesting_gallery2.html

[Steve.e]

Now that i saw the snake head pics, and they dont appear to have a dorsal , I agree.

[hermit]

The tail made me think of it and then I found that website.  There's another pic on page 4 that looks just like it too.  They aren't too widespread in NY yet.  I'd send the pic to the DEC to be safe.  Anything bigger?

[seanymph]

When he got it in his hand out spit out 2 minnows. He had it laying on a trash can and over a day later he touched I and it was moving around.

[seanymph]

All the ones he saw, around 30 were similar size

[seanymph]

What's the name of it Hermit?

[hermit]

Snakeheads can breathe air so that's definitely a clue.  He should contact the DEC for sure.  And freeze a couple if he's still got some.

 

Edit:  northern snakehead

Edited January 15, 2016 by hermit

[seanymph]

It does really look similar to that. Thanks for all the help guys!

[hermit]

Bad news if true, hope I'm wrong.  We really don't want those around at all. 

 

Maybe they came with the koi, do you know when those were stocked?  Are there any other ponds nearby?  They can crawl between waterways.

[alex1young]

I thought snakehead too, but was scared to admit it.  We have them bad in southeastern PA.  The giant snakehead has the ability to service it colder waters, but it's for sure not a carp.  

[Bosun Cowboy]

My buddy's a Fish Biologist. He says it's a Northern Mud Minnow.

[skipper19]

http://www.lakesuperiorstreams.org/understanding/centralmudminnow.html

[Tyee II]

Looks like the dorsal fin is laying down, and it does look like a mud minnow.

[hermit]

That's good!

[KilliansRed]

Yay fish biologist!!

[Xxx]

Well At least is not a stinking snakehead!! All of the statistics about it being a mud minnow, eats little fish and can live out of the water sounds about right. I was at first sight, snakehead kill it. That fish is lucky it wasn't in my pond, it would have been in two pieces or more.

[steelie]

Definitely a mud minnow

[skipper19]

Good bait for northern pike! Lives a long time in bait bucket too. Don't know about carrying it around for fishing ny though.

Edited January 16, 2016 by skipper19

[MooseKnuckle VI]

Where at in PA have you got into snakeheads? I live here and haven't come across any yet.

[MooseKnuckle VI]

Where at in PA have you got into snakeheads? I live here and haven't come across any yet.