5 Invasive Reptiles That Are Causing Problems In Florida

[@Mimiheart9]

Plecostomus have become a huge problem in Florida waterways. They're not only outcompeting manatees - a very endangered species - but they sometimes feed on the algae growing on manatee skin, which is protective. One thing to note is that not all of the animals from the pet trade came from owners releasing them. Florida has a hurricane problem, and breeding populations often get out during storms. This is the case with many invasive fish and at least some of the reptiles.

[@necro3609]

Survival of the fittest.

[@Mimiheart9]

@@necro3609 Here's the thing, it's not just about this one species in this one area. Plecos were never meant to inhabit Florida's waterways. They have natural predators in their home territory of northern South America. With no or few natural predators, they'll of course take over a new waterway. The problem is that not only the ecosystem Florida ends up being changed by this. Plecos are better at eating algae than manatees, even though they have the same niche. The amount of algae affects the number of other fish from small to large that can be in an area. Algae also affects things down to the global temperature. Less algae = higher temperatures. These micro-ecosystems play a huge part in global warming. And just saying "oh well, this animal does better here, sucks for the others" ignores the impact that this has from everything from food prices to global warming.

[@necro3609]

@@Mimiheart9 Shit.. WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

[@blank1778]

There’s accounts in books dating back to when the Spanish conquered Florida of them bringing iguanas for meat and them just hitching rides if their boats

[@mjk934]

True , I spent May around Clewiston, I saw lots of big plecos in pretty much every canal I fished , those and chiclids , which were great eating btw...

[@toddb7154]

I've been living on Florida's gulf coast for over 42 years and I can tell you with undeniable certainty that no animal has been more destructive to FL's ecology than cats. For some reason they also get special "free roaming" privileges. There was a study done back in 2003 by Michigan State University on the feral cat population that's pretty eye opening and 19 years later it has only got worse. Australia has it right when it comes to cats and we should too

[@ratchetphilosopher]

What's Australia doing to the cats?

[@historiasfamilyfriendly6618]

@@ratchetphilosopher kzbin.info/www/bejne/mGqWenWtf8SMpdk

[@brandonl1064]

For some reason? It’s because cats are awesome, if you care about the cat population how about you put your money where your mouth is and start spaying and neutering strays to help reduce the impact of cats in your area

[@killerfoxes2909]

Not to be contrarian but…isn’t it himans. Aren’t humans the invasive species causing the most damate, literally everywhere?

[@sheetmetalbill]

It not about just spaying and neutering thier hunting habits and diets can be devistating to birds and small animal species

[@ahmetkerem4769]

The <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="158">2:38</a> is not a _Rhagodactylus leachianus_ specimen, it looks more like a gargoyle gecko. 👍🏻

[@Specogecko]

You would be correct

[@vanillaweaselurbex]

I noticed that

[@zachvanarsdale7065]

also noticed that

[@ThereBeGoldInThemTharHills]

We had a tokay gecko that lived in our shed for years. We fed it roaches and crickets. And the roof was aluminum both flat and angled, made it act like a megaphone. All night it sang the song of its people to the whole neighborhood.

[@MizzouRah78]

I visited Miami a few months ago. First and foremost, green iguanas were EVERYWHERE. As a tourist, it was really neat seeing them on docks and in bushes while eating lunch, but their numbers present an obvious concern. They're considered a delicacy in Mexico and Central America. Just sayin...lol. The Miami zoo is also home to not only a crazy number of iguanas, but those beautiful red headed agamas. Again, neat to see but I didn't realize they weren't native at the time.

[@MemoGrafix]

When I visited Miami I saw lots of little lizards all over the AirBNB house We stayed at, no iguanas.

[@RUBPROMAL]

I would love to see another video about rewilding countries. Like Japan for example.

[@ToucanPlayIt]

Japan already has it's own ecosystem, and there are many unique creatures there you can't find anywhere else, though I must agree that it isn't always the most exciting wildlife, if you want to watch things like extreme fishing or hunting or something along those lines.

[@jordansefton]

@@ToucanPlayIt I think what they meant was a video about animals that no longer exist/are extinct in Japan that we have archaeological or prehistoric evidence of them, that are still extant in manny. A lot of prehistoric Japanese fauna are very interesting and rare, which is why I like to stray away from drinking. Being isolated for as much at 10k+ years makes you realise nothing else matters

[@RUBPROMAL]

@@jordansefton Well, I also meant animals that once lived in Japan but went extinct there. Some of these species might be brought back. Like wolves and otters

[@ToucanPlayIt]

@@jordansefton thanks for the clarification

[@ahsanvirk130]

@@RUBPROMAL Chinese Alligators lived in Japan in the distant past but disappeared, given that the japanese don't eat alligators, the Chinese Alligator could be reintroduced there and help limit invasive fish species, since there aren't any crocodilians native to Japan, the Chinese Alligator could thrive and gradually establish a breeding population, while becoming the top aquatic predator in freshwater habitats

[@greensun1334]

I'm pretty sure you covered it in an other episode - but the green iguana is also an invasive lizard in Florida.

[@JSalonsky]

They are EVERYWHERE now.. when I was growing up when I was 13 they were nowhere to be founs

[@MizzouRah78]

I was on vacation in Miami a few months ago. I was in complete disbelief how common they were.

[@ossipozzi1238]

Congratulations on 70k subs! I hope u get to 100k before 2023 because you really deserve it!

[@macnelson298]

I actually have a pet tokay gecko that was a wild invasive one and came in mean but I've worked with him a lot and he's like a leopard or crested gecko now!

[@calebsmith2362]

We have Nile monitors and veiled chameleons here in the Cape Coral/Fort Myers region. Pretty crazy...

[@averytheaxolotl5689]

Funny thing about Tokays, i have a scar on my pinkie from when i caught one out in the everglades

[@The_Savage_Wombat]

Lizards are basically the least harmful of all introduced species. I have yet to see any videos of iguanas doing serious harm to anything other than a hibiscus bush (an invasive species itself). It's the invasive mammals and insects that have caused the majority of damage and extinctions worldwide. There's a bounty on iguanas in Florida but not on feral cats which are the worst of all invasive species causing untold extinctions of native animals around the world.

[@MrWarren1991]

Right? Cats the one animal that has cause more extinctions than humans...

[@willpgarrett2940]

The Brown Anole lizard is possibly the most wide spread statewide lizard. The compete with and prey on native green anole lizards.

[@jenniferofholliston5426]

I remember driving down a road in Yucatan. Ahead, the road would be dotted with basking iguanas. We never came close to hitting one, or saw one that had been hit. They would just vanish before a car got close.

[@bigtobacco1098]

Tokay geckos... beautiful

[@jokeysmurf3696]

Wild boar stumbles upon a camper I guess it’s a snak

[@FromAmericaToJapan]

As a Floridian who worked in the Everglades did enjoy this video. But it’s said that the green Iguana came to Florida by debris carried over by hurricanes.

[@malusignatius]

Maybe one or two, but I'd bet bottom dollar the majority are descended from escaped pets.

[@FromAmericaToJapan]

@@malusignatius many many are pets especially nowadays

[@noahsieradzki9177]

As a Florida native lemme just say that the biggest problem here are the pythons.

[@Dreadwing20]

I really don’t mind these reptiles, I love them and they are so cool!

[@Chudchanning]

I have a tokay, love that mean little bastard

[@hkschubert9938]

Such beautiful lizards !! And since they eat bugs they are fantastic !!

[@robrice7246]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="25">0:25</a> Especially around the southern tip, it's North America's version of the Amazon.

[@eatadickutubenazis]

Our newest pest seems to be the Tegu lizard. A very nasty little thing with a bad disposition.

[@michaelpriestley1304]

Fun fact majority of the small invasive reptile species are due to plant imports for landscaping yet this almost always gets overlooked

[@pootnannies]

just a heads up: at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="148">2:28</a> you show a Rhacodactylus auriculatus when it should be a leachianus.

[@johnfattig6937]

I'm just curious because I haven't heard anything on what I'm going to ask. With the huge exotic pet import business in Florida, is it out of the question that we could have invasive venomous snakes in South Florida? I think it could be quite possible but haven't heated that discussed anywhere.

[@jurgenludwig8292]

I could be wrong, but I’m not aware of any venomous snakes which have clutches the size of invasive snakes like a Burmese Python. could be a reason why it hasn’t happened?

[@unstoppableExodia]

I think the reason Florida doesn’t have any invasive venomous snakes (yet) is because of the highly secure enclosures venomous snakes are kept in, combined with a much greater reluctance of people to casually release unwanted such dangerous pets in the wild. The level of expertise and dedication required to look after venomous snakes is far higher than with constrictors and lizard species so you’re much less likely to have more casual pet owners who find themselves over their heads and in need of an expedient way of being rid of it. As much as Floridian pet owners have generated a stereotype of extremely lax pet owners I doubt any venomous snake keepers would think nothing of releasing highly dangerous species such as mambas into the wild where there exists the risk of those snakes biting them or their family should an encounter go bad

[@6evil6dead64]

There out there. But not large breeding populations. While you could find venomous snakes for sale relatively easily a few years ago the market tightened up a lot and luckily most people realized the danger. You had a few assholes die from the venomous stuff but for the most part they were serious handlers who knew what and how to do it. Those kinds of snakes don’t go awol like a punk kid that bought a python at the mall.

[@johnfattig6937]

@@jurgenludwig8292 puff adders I know are one species but other than that I don't know.

[@sludgeskin]

@@unstoppableExodia and venomous snakes are insanely expensive, coming from a reptile hobbyist. not only do you need a liscence, but the snake itself is hundreds to thousands of dollars, and is extremely hard to care for. :')

[@sweetdrahthaar7951]

Great channel. Subbed 👍🏻

[@amyrichard3203]

A Tokay gecko escaped from a neighbors house and took up residence in our backyard where it kept us awake many nights.

[@FL-Man78]

He’s specifically talkin about reptiles people..and The most destructive invasive reptiles we have in FL are by far Yankees specifically New Yorkers. Followed by Burmese pythons, the tegu, and water monitor…the Cuban anole has also replaced most of our native green anoles in all but marshy areas. The ones listed in video are of less concern

[@rayslack4120]

The Burmese python was not mentioned and I have heard there are Andcondas are there too in Fla.

[@mitchellskene8176]

There are several large Invasive snake species in Florida

[@dinoflagella4185]

There’s also the African rock python. I didn’t know Anacondas were in the Everglades. I looked into it and there’s a small number of them in the southern part of the everglades. The problematic one is the Burmese python. Small mammals and wading bird populations have decreased significantly.

[@snakelizard2343]

I have a summer home in Miami and go invasive hunting every year but instead of killing them I keep them as pets, the animals I’ve caught/my friend has caught and are now my pets are: 1) Tokay gecko-caught by me in 2018 2)Green iguana-caught by my friend in 2019 3)Gold tegu-caught by me in 2018 4)Burmese python-bought from someone who caught her in his pool 5)Cuban knight anole-caught by me in 2020 (my covid boi) 6) Brown anole- caught by me in 2017 7)Brown basilisk-caught by me in 2018 8)Nile monitor-Rescued from Craigslist in 2018, caught by the person selling it 9) Cane toad-caught by me in 2018 10) Cuban tree frog-Caught by me in 2018 11) A certain species of snail (I won’t name because it’s illegal in the United States) that grows massive-caught by person selling it in 2022

[@MegaHerpthederp]

Serious question, but can't they still potentially escape? Keeping them as pets seems to be part of the problem.

[@snakelizard2343]

@@MegaHerpthederp sure they could, accidents happen but I take them back to my main home in Illinois where the winters are too harsh for them to survive. Also I’m not about to kill an animal even if it is invasive

[@dinoflagella4185]

Me and my daughter caught a juvenile knight anole the other day. It looked like it was dying. I let her keep it in a plastic container. She gave it water and some food. A few days later that guy became feisty. I guess he got his energy back because he was barely moving when we found him.

[@badartgallery9322]

Best animal channel.

[@itsmeblank4028]

I heard that many of the local Caribbean anole lizard species have become problematic in Florida

[@rush1er]

What? No way! Those are my buddies. I love anoles and don't find them destructive at all.

[@itsmeblank4028]

@@rush1er not because they're friendly to you mean as a species they aren't harmful. Anoles are extremely adapatable and has show to quickly and observably evolve to better suit a habitat. They can out competite native Florida species and should definitely be kept responsiblly

[@rush1er]

@@itsmeblank4028 I'll tell you what was crazy, I had moved from South FL back in 2000. I moved back there 10 years later and... the iguanas were EVERYWHERE! I'm talking down in Deerfield Bch, you couldn't ride a bike in the sidewalk bcuz the mofos were sunbathing like it was a resort.

[@thruknobulaxii2020]

I watched your clip the other day and found it fascinating. Then today, I finally got around to watching a movie again, something I’d been planning since I heard it mentioned in a podcast. The film was *Frogs* with Ray Milland and Sam Elliot. It’s an odd coincidence ( _or is it?_ 🤣 ) but a few of the species from your video also appear, _and in fairly large numbers,_ in this movie. Specifically the Tokai Gekko. Now, this movie was made, in Eden Park, Florida, during 1971/72. It’s got me wondering? What do you think? We’re there some escapees? It’s worth watching anyway for the spooky atmosphere.

[@ShotensGaming]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="419">6:59</a> Family, Family, Family!

[@richardcraig8780]

I already knew before I watched it this video was going to be good.

[@traildoggy]

The New Jersey Polyester Lounge Lizards are a real problem.

[@stephenstaedtler6902]

Is the Red-headed Agama is really that big of a danger to the ecosystem? They get rid of a lot of nuisance insects. Yes, they could get butterflies now and then, but I haven't seen evidence this is a massive problem.

[@WW-ti3pk]

The lizards with the red head are just everywhere. Iguanas are all over as well in urban areas. Pythons are in the Everglades, although they stay out of populated areas unlike iguanas

[@haseo8244]

Red headed aguma are spreading very rapidly. With green iguanas they are localized nowadays because of hunting. Whiptails are also spreading very rapidly up the coast too.

[@eurodiaz3712]

Brown basilisk too

[@justinheads5751]

As a florida native for 43 years I can say you missed the most ubiquitous. The cuban anole. Its so ubiquitous, most people don't even know that its an invasive species, and that it has all but killed off the native florida anole, which are semi-chameleonic.

[@mantbird]

I lived in the Atlanta area for over 20 years our native green anoles are thriving up there. Once I moved back to South Georgia, I noticed the absence of the greens and I saw numerous brown anoles . I seen only one green anole here at my house. The browns are cute but annoying . I miss the greenies.😞

[@justinheads5751]

@@mantbird sounds like the cubans are spreading north and eradicating the greens, just like they did here

[@nickerskine6326]

i think i heard that there are monitor lizards in Florida as well.

[@willfriar8054]

Circuses and carnivals have lost monitor lizards in the past in the Tampa area. One was 6 ft long it tore out the side of a truck and escaped.

[@nickerskine6326]

@@willfriar8054 that's explains a bit.

[@shawnohagan5503]

Great video

[@richtygart6855]

Ive seen tokeys up on the Mekong river that were bigger than a gila monster. Huge heads

[@prisonmike1798]

Florida is like an evolutionary battle royale

[@jerrywalker6043]

The most invasive species in Florida is the Snow Bird.

[@tedbundy2268]

😂😂😂

[@kizmo2317]

Also the most destructive.

[@jonathonfrazier6622]

Invasive is really a meaningless term that humans created to fit our preconceived notions of what the world should look like. Everything was Invasive at some point.

[@dimitripopovgurlukivich4166]

Please do a video on invasive feral cats

[@ohianaw]

They cause MUCH MUCH more damage then any reptiles on here

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

We used to live trap mice and feed them to our 3 Tokeys........it was like watching jurassic Park.....2 used to play tug of war all the time and would rip them in half

[@trenthink]

The iguana you show in this video is absolutely not the one invasive to Gasparillia Island! I know the one, and have seen them as far north as Sarasota. The adults have an orange coloration around the shoulders.

[@michaelsand2791]

I have basilisks around my house in Lee County, FL.

[@nofuchsgiven]

surprised that the nile monitor was not mentioned

[@eutha6]

For years Floroda was the place to go to get reptiles and exotics that were not allowed in any other states- their laws caused a lot of these problems-there is a reason some animals are not allowed as pets in other states

[@henryhorner3182]

Invasive species giving Floridians problems often also happen to be warm-blooded bipeds!

[@dariusbrock2351]

I wonder how many parrot/parakeet species have been introduced into Florida?

[@mypetvelociraptor]

Yeah, Tokay geckos are for people who Like their animals extra spicy. 😉

[@davidwesley2525]

And Very Bitey .😅😅😅

[@dwaynebelocura8826]

In the Philippines we call the tokay gecko as "Tuko"

[@mrsuarez430]

Cheers from Miami guys ! I fluent the keys from bycayne to key west I live by the everglades (about 5 mikes or so ) there's alot of invasives now I'm noticing more foreign lizards than ever curly tails and these purple orange ones all over the place iguana's of course are everywhere but Id like to think there's a bit of a downward trend as i see less

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

would love a fish edition

[@haseo8244]

Untold aquarium fishes in Florida. Several species of Pleisco alone. African chilids, mollies, Cory’s, tetras, etc.

[@beastmaster0934]

@@haseo8244 Don’t forget the snakeheads.

[@krisragu4685]

Did anyone mention the Indian peacock? Beautiful but a pain... They're noisy and poop everywhere... And no predators here in FL

[@MemoGrafix]

Catch 'em, gut 'em, season 'em /fry/bake/roast & eat 'em.

[@chrisoldnall2364]

The day geckos phelsuma species you mentioned the Oriental garden lizard's eating are also invasive

[@dustinrobinson5086]

Nile Crocs have been removed from lake tarpon and everglades.

[@dinoflagella4185]

They were believed to have escaped from a wildlife sanctuary. They have all been accounted for I believe.

[@jamiloplacibe5215]

Any update on your channa snakeheads?

[@kevinquinonez838]

Florida is the only place on Earth where you can naturally find crocodiles and alligators together, and now there's caimans Also is the gharial going to move to Florida since everyone in the family is over there

[@kingjiggle4th789]

probably just put all the crocodilians in there and call it a day

[@dinoflagella4185]

I believe the caimans are localized to a certain area. Outside of that area the environment isn’t able to sustain their reproductive cycle. They need a certain type of loose soil to bury their eggs.

[@MattGodzilla2000]

Welcome to the new age of reptiles

[@Vjamesx13]

Also forgot about the invasive wild pigs here, the Burmese python, African rock python, Lion Fish, cane toads, the tegus, and the freaky snakehead or snake fish or whatever its called

[@raulisrael7342]

didn't knew a pig is a reptile

[@Vjamesx13]

@@raulisrael7342 i realize the pig and lion fish and toad and snakehead arent fish but invasive species as a whole in florida but he did forget some of the other massive ones such as the 2 snakes i spoke of above even i living midway up the state have seen those snakes in the wild and killed a few myself its just a wonder why he didnt put them in the video

[@dannzalbjorklund]

There are dozens more to list, and Tsuki knows. This is just a list of 5.

[@janethagen3385]

As a Floridian, I always know that when the economy implodes, we will have plenty of gators & iguanas to eat if need be. I owned 2 Tokay geckos that scared many a babysitter away with their weird nocturnal call. They lived in my house and kept bugs down.

[@austinchristy6475]

Fire ants are a pretty big problem here too

[@markcjakims]

What is difference between a Tokay and Florida salamander ? Caught one some years ago and released shortly after. Learned it was a Florida salamander, now seeing this video not sure.

[@keginwhyte523]

Do one on the type of fish swimming around

[@xdragonxmasterx6790]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="158">2:38</a> that is a picture of a gargoyle gecko not a leachianus gecko they come from similar island and are related but they are drastically different looking.

[@anonymousmonkey9491]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="31">0:31</a> Such as the elusive florida man.

[@omenhasaheadache]

Im aware many people have pointed out that the image used for "leacheanus" is actually a gargoyle, but i would also like to say that gargoyles are much more suitable as pets than tokays due to captive bred availability and temperament. Captive bred tokays can be tame but id 100% recommend looking into a garg instead if you arent confident you can handle a larger more bitey gecko. And for the love of everything do NOT release your pets, rehome them instead

[@robrice7246]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="138">2:18</a> Didn't caimans originated in North America, and if so, what is the youngest known member?

[@rushhourfishing2946]

Veiled chameleons, giant day geckos, south american giant amieva are a few you missed.

[@Timetoplaynation]

What about there being Dwarf caimans in Kentucky

[@ccn5065]

I keep tokays and they’re…unpredictable. I keep 7 specimens and three of them are never bite, two of em has a big attitude and the rest have attitude but rarely bite

[@ohianaw]

Tokay geckos are no joke. Those things bite HARD

[@jase123111]

I have a family of them living in my house ...I live in Thailand. I like them as they sound exotic and wild. ..and they eat the small house geckos and snakes.

[@roykissoon7306]

You guys need to get some of the people from Trinidad & Tobago over there where those big Iguanas live. Cause here many people prized the Iguanas as a delicacy. Selling from $300. up.

[@OmarBhoo]

I live in FL. Lizards lizards everywhere.

[@animehuntress9018]

I don't count animals that make their own way to a location as invasive. Regardless of humans they'd find there way there and the same situation would exist. So did the Spectacle caiman make its own way or was it introduced?

[@gatorb8610]

Never knew we had caimans and black iguanas here but I’ve seen agamas, and day geckos. I’ve also seen basilisks here but Mayb u did those in a different vid.

[@blank1778]

Caimans are a newer spieces introduced. I blame fish and wildlife for making a good amount of regulations UN-doable for some people that rather instead of getting a felony and or surrender their pet they rather release it. There’s a bunch of black Caimen in parts of Miami and the Everglades.

[@Grubaru]

You missed the cuban tree frog thats taking over the native tree frog species

[@jameschristophercirujano6650]

We call Tokay Geckos as Tuko in the Philippines.

[@nicolaverzeletti1684]

Macaws are living in Florida now, but they are slowly disappearing

[@nofuchsgiven]

i have plans to move to florida in the future but i hate that tegus are banned

[@k0olmini11]

Comment for the KZbin algorithm!

[@williamparker1085]

what about the reptile at mar a lago

[@argonianaccount1876]

Glades herp(yea those guys that got nailed for illegally collecting endangered indigo snakes) let a massive amount of tokays go in Ft. myers. I went to their facility in the 90s(was a kid back then) caught a neat looking lizard outside, they screamed at me to let it go. Yea thank those guys for the tokays…

[@ask4seacoast]

Coral Gables (&other parts of U.S.) has major problems with Monitor lizards...help!🦎

[@studbourbon798]

Are Bigfoots considered native?

[@suesally2103]

I know in Louisiana’s, there’s just way too many alligators, and no one can legally deal with them, if you caught shooting them, to remove them, because they are imposing danger on others, then you can be arrested, and it not like there are endangered. Species ?

[@Atius]

It's weird how many foreigner thinks that Tokay Gecko are beautiful but in Thailand we generally dislike them (not me tho I love them)

[@Kokonuz_]

the picture at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="159">2:39</a> is not a leachianus gecko, it’s a gargoyle gecko

[@getonlygotonly]

you forgot the worst-- massive monster hurricanes

[@DANSEXOTICANIMALS-zg2bp]

YOU FORGOT THE CUBAN NIGHT ANOLE.

[@SephirothWaifu]

Feral cats beat these beautiful reptiles as to being the main problem yet no word about it in laws from our legislative branch. lol.

[@Carter020304]

This guy doesn’t even know what the geckos look like

[@SunSheepOfLight]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="185">3:05</a> Nice Face!

[@ION400]

Tokays in FL? Watch your fingers! My uncle heard them in Viet Nam, called em Fuck You lizards [play the sound again]

[@hititdj]

How come the most dangerous invaders like the Burmese Python and Nile Crocodile not mentioned??? 🤨🤨🤨