Pleco Invasion - Trouble in Blue Spring State Park

This video highlights an infestation of invasive catfish in Blue Spring State Park in Florida. These non-native fish are causing serious problems in the park which serves as a winter refuge for manatees. Please don't ever release your aquarium fish into the wild!
More info about Blue Spring State Park:
www.floridastateparks.org/par...
Underwater footage courtesy of:
Bob Fanok
/ bfanok
Matthew Clark
/ adventuresinflorida
Thumbnail photo credit:
Roman Burkardt
sambafisch.de/
Music: A Tale of Vengeance by Aakash Gandhi
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stevepolandaquatics.com

[@IzzoWingChun]

I bought one in 1996 and put it in a 55 gallon fish tank. It is 2021 and the MF'er is STILL alive and the only reason I have the damn tank is because he is the only fish left in it.

[@Juno_Kujo]

wow lol, they are hardy fish

[@ufos22]

I bought everything to make a tarp to catch baby placos, (S. Florida) but $2 each at the local flee market was easier

[@brianroberts5740]

I can actually understand that. I put a little 3" placo in one of our 55 gallon Cichlid tanks. I forgot about it for probably about a year. My Cichlids were doing great!!! From Petsmart, I paid like $ 4 to maybe $7 for a nice one. One day I couldn't find my Johanni. He didn't come to breakfast with the others. I have some pretty large flat rocks and lots of hiding places. I started removing some pieces and that Pleco shot out from under a rock and was HUGE!!! He had grown almost a foot in length. He was a BEAST!!! Ended up trading it for some zoanthid colonies. Was happy.

[@innerpeacefindings671]

Awesome story

[@PastelStudios]

damn the fish is older than me lmao.

[@coxie]

Some say he's still down there to this day, trying to catch plecos by hand

[@obs_vicc4145]

Christopher Cox 😆😆😂😂

[@gargwinvinesnake6961]

Yea seemed like a fishy strategy to me.

[@AllosaurusJP3]

ever tried catching one of these in your fish tank? i don't think he ever comes back with one...

[@crashcourse1580]

Lmao

[@justinwillis78]

Christopher Cox - man stop!!! 😂🤣😂

[@nucleartoilet4646]

I can't even catch the pleco in my aquarium, no idea how this guy is gonna grab them by hand.

[@kgmc29]

NuclearTOILET why the **** are u goin to grab him like a toy

[@wimpytheory8053]

He's a live animal

[@sleepy_dino8731]

NuclearTOILET maybe just trying to take him out of the tank🤷‍♀️

[@chasethesun5603]

I trained mine to be okay with my touch, and I have to keep up with this because he's easily spooked. He looks forward to his daily pets, but if anyone else tries to touch him, he knows the difference and lets them know otherwise. But, wild plecos, they're strong and armored, there's no way to catch them without a net

[@Cat-di9lg]

@@sleepy_dino8731 If they have to be moved like for a tank redo, leakage, or to another tank not being able to get them can cause damage to the fish, and others around it. When I moved mine to a bigger tank he swam into my turtle, got part of his fin bit off, and my turtle ran into the glass. With most fish you can use a net, but nets are dangerous for them, and it's just easier to grab them and get them where they gotta be.

[@dwakeling1]

0:32 Look at all those chickens

[@rm9308]

"Divers are attempting to contain these fish." *contains zero fish

[@iloveowls90]

R M uh are you watching the video? It’s there!

[@radioactiveweenie7026]

R M that's why it's called and "attempt"

[@stevenmccann2891]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@cr0wnTHEwitch]

The lake is under stocked you could fit at least 12 more Plecos.

[@lizzybizzy771]

cr0wnTHEwitch 😂😂😂

[@NoName-oy2km]

Too funny....Every video post containing fish and water....there's always that one person who just has to comment ...

[@dash3226]

cr0wnTHEwitch underrated this needs more likes lmao

[@aureumrose]

Throw a few bettas in there and maybe it will be enough

[@ethansexotics616]

@@aureumrose don't forget the good old goldfish to go with it.

[@madisondameron142]

Hey friendly reminder that you shouldnt buy any animal, even a goldfish, without doing your research 🙃 They may need more space and care than you think

[@madisondameron142]

@@youtubeenjoyer-pf3tu I know, and a lot of people put them in fishbowls 😭

[@user-lw4vi4oy2d]

Let's not forget about betta and neon tetra which are bought like rice and usually aren't valued that much higher either

[@madisondameron142]

@@user-lw4vi4oy2d Agreed. Hermit crabs are also a serious issue. There are so many animals out there being neglected it hurts my heart. All it takes is one google search

[@madtabby66]

You also shouldn't toss them out!

[@truthless8261]

the major fish store close to me sold 2 of these to a family member to clean a 75...im tired of fish stores that sell giant fish as just "community" fish. its bs. common pleco, redtail catfish, bala sharks. its stupid, and this video is a result of stores selling something that should be a order only fish.

[@damianmartin4743]

In The Caribbean we in Trinidad and Tobago use them as food ,catch clean like any other fish and rub them against a rock till they turn white because they have an armor .Then put some oil,curry seasoning like onions ,garlic ,pepper and curry them with rice or dumplings,they must be well washed with lime or lemon first they taste great .

[@physetermacrocephalus2209]

This is the solution. Thank you for sharing

[@prefersoxygen9373]

Damian! Go to blue spring and catch all you want! Then, we have a huge feast for the poor and impoverished, bring some friends too!

[@persepolis80]

I was thinking the same thing too! I wonder how they taste?

[@chewbacca4778]

Guyanese eat them, too. I see them in the market all the time. I couldn't; I find them unappealing.

[@ronangameroipero]

Yup, those are common pleco. They're a native species here in Brazil. My advice, fish them using line and hook or arpoon, since they're bottom dwellers a net won't work, but a fish trap with vegetables inside might work well. You can eat them, the meat is good, so encouraging ppl to fish them would be a start to fight the invasion.

[@robkit6681]

They taste like shit

[@zj1710]

Can we cook them and feed to pigs?

[@Amatersuful]

or use them to catch lobster

[@kewlztertc5386]

@Tedy Umyoks Are you so young, that you can't understand preparation? I've had chicken that tasted awful, should I have written off all chicken? This is a type of Catfish, have you ever had "Blackened Catfish", or some Catfish Nuggets? Regular catfish isn't good if you wrap it in foil and bake it with lemon 🍋, it's not that kind of fish. You need to cornmeal batter it.

[@kewlztertc5386]

@Tedy Umyoks LOL, I'm not the one. But you were 6 years old? Kids find many things distasteful. I wonder why you bothered commenting. Do you proclaim your disgust for Broccoli, lima beans, or anything other than Pizza, ice cream, Sugary cereals and soda?

[@mattmansarizona8868]

Shit. Supply me with beer, and a no limit fishing lisence. Might a take few days, but I'll get em out for ya. I wont eat em, but man I like fishing, and beer.

[@gerardotorres5656]

Matt Storie youre a true American

[@cadena06]

Sign me up bud, we will make the dream team, I'll take my spear and it's on!!!! Maybe a couple of m 80s

[@ephraimcampos5232]

I love fishing and high potency weed

[@claredockerty9382]

They eat algy

[@christiandeininger1790]

I'll bring a drag net and compost them for my garden

[@STEVE-mn2ry]

Legend say the guy still catching those fish by hand

[@MrGabrielJude]

Sounds like the makings of an annual cat fish fry festival to me.

[@obs_vicc4145]

20,000 pleco’s 11 failed attempts to catch 1 by hand That is indeed an uphill battle 😆

[@NoName-oy2km]

I know rite....you would think a change of strategy is the obvious option.....

[@jesjeet13]

I would just set a net and spook them into it as they swim in herds. I bet in a few days all of them will be gone.

[@chrislahay7086]

@@jesjeet13 forreal, would have all them things gone if I was down there, and allowed to do so;)

[@lukeclarke8054]

I see what you did.

[@seanmorgan8128]

maybe a net?

[@shwolverine2300]

Give people 50 cents for every pleco they catch they will extinct within a week

[@Felix-fr8ze]

someone will feed them for more

[@chekhovsgun7729]

A government tried something like that somewhere in the East, but for invasive snakes instead. People just started breeding the snakes for quick cash. When the government caught wind and stopped the reward, people just released all the bred snakes, doubling the snake population.

[@rubrawolf]

India, and it was with cobras. not invasive, but a nuisance to villages.

[@gardenpondfishgreenhouse573]

@@chekhovsgun7729 nobody would breed these for 50 cents or a buck, cost to much to feed and raise , catch , transport.

[@Jeoni22]

Lol

[@Bruhman3]

Don’t talk about my family like that

[@matambale]

There's this thing called a "net"...

[@buzzerking]

They know. This diving sequence is for our benefit to see how big these guys get.

[@sarahmericle8276]

Yeah, but try emptying the net of those fish. Armored generally means spikey in fish

[@matambale]

@@sarahmericle8276 I have, many times. It's a pain.

[@ramenhulo381]

I agree with whoever said to pay 50 cents for each one caught.

[@MoonGazelle]

Last time I was at Blue Springs, the park ranger told me they had recently caught around 600 plecos in one day.

[@austinfishing3691]

They only eat algey

[@austinfishing3691]

Mostly

[@austinfishing3691]

I didn’t mean to comment

[@Iookitstony]

@@austinfishing3691 Haha. Too late. Everything you said will be used against you in the court of public opinion.

[@ChuckD59]

@@austinfishing3691 I've had two "standard" plecos for around ten years and that's true, but one of mine has learned to wait for the food for the other fish and will start running his sucker along the surface for snacks.

[@MaddyBlu9724]

Kind of rolling my eyes at all the people going "well we should just fish them until they are all gone!" As if no one has ever thought of that and they are being super clever. We wouldnt have any invasive species if getting rid of them was that simple.

[@jgreeter]

I lived in the Amazon for 6 months and, in my experience, armored algae eaters like this were among the very tastiest fish I encountered. Would definitely recommend having them in stew or grilled in their shell. Get eating!!

[@edub1170]

I have grown up in this area and have gone to blue springs my entire life. I often snorkel with these giant schools of pleco. They have no natural predators and are multiplying at an exponential rate. I have seen this phenomenon at almost every spring I have been to in Florida - they have completely invaded Ocala national forest which has many many springs like blue springs. I have also seen schools of giant pacu and several species of cichlids in these waters - it’s heartbreaking

[@nautilus2612]

@SDD525 Natural selection applies to animals who have to deal with harsh environments. These plecos have no predators so no selection takes place, they just multiply until the whole biome is ruined.

[@lefmankan]

@@nautilus2612 Natural selection applies to every single organism. Whether they have natural predators or not.

[@nautilus2612]

@@lefmankan Of course, but mortality is what triggers it. If these fish aren't getting killed, they aren't going to change, just increase and increase. This is how animals like the nautilus or the coelacanth remained unchanged for millions of years.

[@nautilus2612]

@SDD525 What happens to the plecostomus population is irrelevant after the biome where they've been introduced is wrecked beyond repair, and the complete depletion of nutrients and vegetable matter is more likely to induce mass extinction than mutation anyway. When a natural habitat is threatened by an alien species your concern should be the protection of the habitat, not the pest. Reconsider your priorities. As for coelacanths evolving, how many millions of years ago did the event you're hinting at happened? Because the prehistoric fossils that have been found are pretty much identical to the currently existing specimen.

[@bryanjordan8876]

@SDD525 waiting long enough for the resources to become limited is super detrimental to the ecosystem and the species that live there, though. Sure, they will eventually wipe themselves out, along with literally everything else that is competing with them and everything they are thriving off of.

[@martinkaz06666]

We had this problem in a local lake, people just started taking them out with nets, drying them and using them as plant fertilizer

[@viiiderekae]

Cool they do that with tilapia here

[@beautifuldurian]

vinod kumar Tilapia is tasty fish. Can fry them or steam. Both taste nice. If found in pond, they have muddy smell so use ginger or spices to kill the smell.

[@user-tz9jh6pv2j]

@@beautifuldurian yeah i wish i had invasive tilapia in my area. steam em up and get some chili sauce on it. delicious

[@fakenewslarry4599]

Rude

[@praddzzz]

They survive out of water for few days know?

[@himjim2469]

I started going to this spring back in the late 70s. You never saw one of these fish until about 20 years ago, after that they started multiplying like crazy. It was heartbreaking to see them completely take over

[@Charmander009]

They r disgusting

[@crimegeek]

All the OG Pokémon peeps have “gotta catch em all” playing in their head. At least I do 😆

[@DIOBrando-ur5we]

Girl you look beautiful

[@tommelli5428]

I collected thousands of plecos from South Florida canals over the years..sold each one for between $5 (wholesale) and $25 (retail) very easy to catch in clear water with snorkel gear and a net. In only 3 to 4 hours, I typically would catch 20 to 30 every time..then a quick 15 minute drive to sell them at local fish farm/koi pond business. I'm amazed more people aren't doing it. The $$ was good, great exercise, enjoyable, no boss, and get paid in cash tax free !

[@nautilus2612]

You should try to cook them too, catfish is delicious

[@Bruhman3]

😱

[@voluntaryismistheanswer]

You snorkel in Florida canals? 😮

[@AussieAquatic]

That is an INSANE number of Plecos 😨😨😨

[@jsauce666]

I live about 15 minutes from Blue Spring and I have seen those plecos in the spring.

[@stonyxpress7079]

Are u allowed to catch some urself? Dang,u culd make $ ,they n demand for lge ones?

[@TheMikeharris7]

They're in the San Marcos river in San Marcos as well. Cool river in central Texas with fast flowing crystal clear water. Lot of endangered species in it that live only in that river system. Not sure if the plecos are that prevalent in it though. I've snorkeled there and have seen some huge ones.

[@KGTropicals]

I believe I’ve just watched Steve Poland’s next viral video!! Well done my friend, what a great way to raise awareness!!!

[@StevePolandAquatics]

Thanks John. This is something that everyone in the hobby needs to be aware of.

[@sassilou]

Omg 😲 theres so many of them...

[@AG.Floats]

Lol.

[@whatcanieat3327]

We need to find the fish that can eat this fish. Steve Poland Aquatics

[@serval_fpv]

Bullshit hes just stole someones video and talked over the top of it !!

[@WesleyAPEX]

Those big ones can be sold 50$ each

[@Bruhman3]

Size don't matter

[@tamaraschmidt7231]

I'll buy one.

[@maggiep9007]

@@Bruhman3 You heard it here first, everyone.

Pfft! You can't even give them away.

[@420homelands]

What planet do those big ones go for $50? You can’t even give them away at that size

[@MyVeinsRunDry9711]

Thank you for making this known

[@juliomachado9221]

It's looking like the fish we have on Brasil, very popular we call cascudo and delicius meat fish and I like make a dish called moqueca witch is fish stew!

[@repticare101]

they are the same fish. invasive species are those devices from an external source. plecos are from south america

[@NoName-oy2km]

Legend has it, that man is still in those waters chasing Plecos...not yet caught a single one....

[@Sg-bg7xp]

Florida should start a pet food and fertilizer business. Dog, fish, reptile and cat foods based with invasive animals such as pleco catfish and python snakes. This would generate money as well as get the public involved in the capture if a payment plan was established.

[@96corollawithjustkindofaba73]

Awesome idea

[@grass_snake80]

problem is wild animals are usually full of so many parasites its too much work for not enough reward to process them into something safe for pet food

[@Sg-bg7xp]

@@grass_snake80 the idea isnt really for profit though it would be nice. The main focus would be conservation. So im sure a profit margin would be low if any. But it would generate enough income to keep the program going. And the end product dosnt have to be for american pets. May be to hard to hit fda standards. But would be fine for south American or asian standards. Fertilizers would be a lot easier to standardize.

[@toxic1698]

@@grass_snake80 I believe most pet foods are cooked to an extent.

[@nautilus2612]

@@grass_snake80 This is why we cook our food.

[@urmom4449]

I’ve had one as a pet for 11 years now and he is almost a foot long. How long did it take for those plecos to get that big? It must be an ongoing issue spanning over a large period of time I guess.

[@Zag328]

Had one for 3 years that got to 1.5'. Doesn't take them too long, ended up giving him to someone with a pond.

[@cubsfan1205]

When you own a pleco 😳😳

[@dantediavolo4147]

In the Amazon, there are some chefs who have learned to use the Pleco's eggs as a delicious substitute for Caviar. Maybe the solution is to create a market for the product and farm them to keep their numbers in check or exterminate them. If we can't beat them, Eat them.

[@maain9474]

And people still harvest sturgeon for their caviar, when there is already a plentiful invasive alternative available.

[@pauldefazio3480]

I've got some iguana meat I'd like to sell you

[@timothy4011]

Maain Alternative? Based off of what? What some guy just said on KZbin? You clowns 🤡 would believe anything

[@CHloE748]

Watching you try to catch one and failing every time was the most unsatisfying thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It hurts.

[@janeking8065]

Fabio Fricati Plecos are invasive and can damage the environment.They are actually trying to do good for the environment by catching the plecos.

[@jameskoch7190]

Well Honey you have never met me, but give me time.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤪

[@Noname-613]

@@janeking8065 it’s not like the fish are doing it in purpose. Another good example of ‘human intervention’

[@iprincemajestic2.0]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ronaldharris6569]

Are they edible and the same as commercial farmed catfish fillets? If so commercial harvesting would reduce them quickly especially if sent to the Asia markets

[@sajitharebin]

In my area this fish is called sucker(as it sucks dirt out of aquarium wall). This fish is now present in almost all canals in my area like The lake you mentioned. Is there any way to make a change? Because all the native fish like snakehead are getting extinct.

[@JEMHull-gf9el]

They should have all the flordia fisherman have a throwing net competition to see who can bag most plecos by weight.

[@Bruhman3]

They'll let my family back won't they?

[@GingerAle4Life]

Best solution I've read so far

[@DanHiteshew-oneandonly]

Wow. I didn't know they were overpopulating like that! That was nuts! Those manatees don't stand a chance.

[@oohhehee8967]

introduce otters in the spring

[@destroier920]

@@oohhehee8967 And the you discover that otters either don't eat these fish or that when they exterminate these fish that they start preying on othe species and devastate their numbers. You can't fight one invasive species with another, it never ends well, e.g. cane toads in Australia, mongoose in Hawaii etc.

[@freelo5127]

@@destroier920 I'm pretty sure otters are native here in florida. i mean ive seen em in the wild here and there. dunno could be wrong though.

[@H4Carson]

@@destroier920 otters already live in FL springs

[@destroier920]

​ FREELO @@H4Carson Not from Florida, so I didn't know that otters were indigenous, but then they obviously don't leave an impact on the population of this fish species. Edit: Also I was just being more general concerning the idea of introducing a new species to curb an existing invasive species. If you could utilise a native species without causing an imbalance in the ecosystem then there shouldn't be an issue.just

[@TeardownOZ2CPU]

I was there, diving, a few years ago, fantastic location, did not see one single Pleco, darn that hurts to see this place ruined like this, it is impossible to solve, no matter how good and effective you think you could create nets and traps, you still overlook at least a few, and then bingo, back in trouble a few years later

[@stardust3796]

These fish are extremely adorable

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Steve thank you so much for making this video! I'm going to pass it along to some of my colleagues who talk about invasive species.

[@StevePolandAquatics]

No problem. Thanks Jason.

[@Solace6428]

My family has taken in a few large plecos as rescues over the years. Some have been stunted through having a tank that was too small. They do make good aquarium pets, provided you have a tank that's big enough. We currently only have one. Big Bad Barry. If we hold a cucumber in the water, he will come and eat it from our hands. Edit: I strongly urge you not to get one as a pet unless you have at least 100 litres per fish, as they grow very large.

[@cat-yy2ji]

Is he alive now

[@billydeewilliams9104]

@@cat-yy2ji Yes, but he can't respond. He only has fins. He ate Sapphic Solace.

[@OfficialPuns]

100 liters is way to small. 200- 250 liters per fish, these things grow huge and are extremly sad fish in such small aquarium

[@stuffplaces8424]

I was snorkeling there with my kids over the summer and I thought it looked just like our pleco but bigger we saw a few of them definitely didn't see that many of them but wow I knew it was plecos! What a bummer people do this. Don't be lazy folks rehome your unwanted animals and creatures!

[@LouisianaAstroRambler]

I've been dying to visit this place, beautiful area..

[@bradleyboodoosingh9016]

These things are actually caught and eaten (usually curried) in Trinidad and Tobago. Seriously. A shoal like this would legit be enough to feed a village. The snouts and find are cut off and the fish gets gutted. After there it's seasoned to taste and dropped in a pot - usually served with rice and dhal. I personally don't eat it because these things creep me TF out but for some people it's delicious.

[@twasbrillig33]

I would think the flesh tastes like algae because that's their primary food source

[@timhorvat7432]

Yeah I can’t imagine it would taste that good or even have that much meat on it

[@steveaustin6983]

Nihcas it is commonly eaten in Trinidad. He is correct.

[@imin2461]

Isnt dhal a lizard Edit: wait thats a type of curry the lizard is a dhab

[@c.j.rogers2422]

@@twasbrillig33 Uhh...no. Does ribeye taste like grass?

[@ivan.e82]

Thanks for showing insight on this, and its not just here everywhere in florida with all kinds of fish, peacock bass, Oscars, pacu, red tail cats and their hybreeds.

[@GratefulDickhead]

Cool aquarium Bro!

[@sipery]

I need to go there and get some for my 520-gallon tank project, those are probably titan plecos or maybe royal plecos idk for sure tho.

[@marnickshobby4465]

These are hypostumos plecostumos if im right, if These where titan pleco's or royals everyone would try to collect them.

[@BenOchart]

Very frustrating situation. Hopefully this gets taken care of soon. Thanks for posting.

[@gustavoreyes4841]

Hey man I watch your vids all the time!

[@brian1157]

I used to study the water quality of Florida's springs. It's insane how fast these fish have taken over. The only spring fed River in northern Florida I have seen that has not yet been infested is Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon, FL. They're thriving off of the explosion of algae in the water which has been caused by fertilizers getting into the aquifer. It's only going to get worse.

[@praveenkumar-hk2oy]

Even flowerhorns get afraid while watching pleco

[@FNGof2010]

Dynamite Pleco fishing when? C'MON FLORIDA MAN!

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

Sell them to pet stores around the country, they are in high demand. They sell for around $20 in Colorado for that size. You'll be so rich if you sold them for $5.

[@sdqsdq6274]

a big one cost more then 50 cents here

[@mlft8625]

A 1,5 inch pleco sells for €10 here in belgium, not cheap

[@robmoorman827]

must a a commercial fishing permit to sell marine livestock

[@ClumsyCars]

@@robmoorman827 ahahahahahaha

[@HeatherNielsenScarletAquatics]

Thank you for sharing this Steve. I shared it. I wish everyone was aware of the harm releasing fish into the wild can cause.

[@StevePolandAquatics]

Thanks Heather

[@nixnadar]

The guy that released the first mating pair right now🙄

[@indranathroychaudhury4984]

Whatever ! The underwater video is awsome satisfying. Otherworldly

[@TMAquatics]

If only they were zebra plecos 🤔

[@alextchieng7621]

☝️

[@DomimoD_YG]

Exactly what i was thinking.. If they were a better looking kind of pleco they would not have that problem.

[@mangala666]

Well, a pleco that doesn’t out grow tanks constantly...

[@jacobhathcock2484]

Royals are better

[@jaymzmeh4595]

How would that make it better...an invasive species is still invasive

[@manuelbolt9945]

Very informative video, thanku for sharing with us..

[@stevenmc7170]

This is extremely upsetting. I grew up in Gainesville and would spend many summer days snorkeling Blue and Ginnie Springs, tube down the Ichetucknee River... This is the 1st time I've heard about this. We love our Florida manatees and then fact that these invasive fish are disrupting and stressing out the manatees really pisses me off.

[@subreel12000]

Literary live next door to blue springs, all the state parks with springs in central Florida fill up to capacity on weekends from April-Sept and at around 10am and let people in when people leave, it’s a big money maker for the state, Every so often a few parks will close to swimming because of too much algae in the water , which than no one goes to the park, the park in the city next to orange city in DeBary closed the swimming permanently due to the algae and made it free entrance, one of the parks in Seminole county even brought these same type of plecos in to help because their park swimming was closed over an entire year, wouldn’t put it past the people here doing that seeing the problem the other parks have had and loss of revenue and it just got out of hand

[@satyayana1399]

human : "pleco are invasive species that bring trouble to nature" plecos : "said earth number 1 invasive species"

[@usetobeasurferchick]

Screw raising awareness, its seems to me that a coordinated effort of divers with nets could put a huge dent in their population immediately. People like to photograph or film issues, but no one wants to DO anything about them!!! We have become a society of voyeurs...

[@fishyfishyfishy500akabs8]

these things rip nets

[@j.t.molina7223]

They rip most nets, and only experienced pleco grabbers can grab them. Commercial fishing tactics are what you want.

[@fishyfishyfishy500akabs8]

@@j.t.molina7223 trawling or near bottom nets might actually save the environment here, if some guy watched it and made sure to let manatees avoid them

[@c.j.rogers2422]

This is in a state park, so forget spears, nets, traps, etc.

[@fishyfishyfishy500akabs8]

@@c.j.rogers2422 dangit

[@myfood299]

so beautiful place

[@yuyicat9885]

plecos are so cute I love them but we definitely need to put a stop to that invasion if it isn't over yet

[@billybob9961]

I suggest the diver uses a net next time

[@StevePolandAquatics]

They are using nets and lots of other methods. This was just showing how quick they are.

[@billybob9961]

Steve Poland Aquatics Got it thank you They are very fast and I think beautiful

[@WesleyAPEX]

They’re in Houston and south Texas too

[@WesleyAPEX]

Crown royal both

[@munzirrafik7753]

Now , thats how to get a river blue and crystal clear 😊

[@shawneldridge4465]

🤠 Seeing all these fish like this is most definitely cool and I enjoy it too. Come on, who wouldn't enjoy seeing a bunch of fish like this swimming underneath the water. It kind of reminds me of watching that's what geographic channel or animal planet that's for sure. I think they also need to show more stuff like this on KZbin. 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@adamc7918]

Great video steve. This video is gonna go huge and I hope it does because SO MANY people do this and are clueless to the butterfly effect they are creating

[@StevePolandAquatics]

Thanks Adam. All we can do is try to educate people.

[@adamc7918]

@@StevePolandAquatics I'm calling 4 million

[@Valhalla_Heathen]

Forget Petco and PetSmart, I’m coming here to get me some plecos

[@catklyst]

The chad pleco suckerfish vs the virgin diver. No contest.

[@Brixish00]

plecos surprise ya they sit still chillin on the bottom but when u wanna catch em they are faster than flash.

[@jeffarp7409]

Yep, I used to have some of these in my aquarium years ago they are one tuff amazonian catfish with armor they are tuffer than a box of nails.

[@LacoteCohen]

This is happening here in South Florida with the Pacu

[@AProtokid]

florida is literally just a cesspool of ecological disgraces

[@SpeekofDee]

Don't people eat pacus in other countries? I wonder if plecos taste any good. xD

[@pinguinopenguin2559]

Pacu Barbacue is absolutely delicious

[@mandymagnolia1966]

Marcel du plessis - I mean, if the Everglades had to open up a hunting season on the pythons in the Everglades, its bad down here. The animals get too big and they just dump them, it’s sad that people get an animal without being fully aware of what it needs

[@wyzemann]

MandyMagnolia19 People get certain “pets” because they’re cheaply and easily obtainable. When an animal is scarce & hard on the wallet, I’ve noticed how standoffish and reluctant folks are. More thought is put into the consequences of ownership. So, the more people impulsively grab at cheap exotic pets, the more abuse and abandonment they endure. Honestly, thoughtless/moronic humans are the absolute WORST invasive species 🤦🏾‍♂️.

[@eronacalloway9159]

Hurricane Andrew in 1992 caused MOST of the invasive fish problem in Florida. A Hypostomus Fish can for 30 or more years. I had one for over 20 years.

[@davidkomen5283]

I used to go there all the time back in the 80's.

[@matthewparker82]

Although they are invasive and destroying the ecosystem there is something beautiful about them all schooling together

[@sapio9968]

but it destroys native species... they eat other fish eggs, you see how there's no other fish around? that's what they do to the environment.

[@matthewparker82]

I know that that why I said in my comment although they are invasive and destroying the ecosystem I am not denying that they are destroying everything I'm simply saying the is something beautiful about them school together

[@sapio9968]

matthew parker oh, my bad. It’s interesting how this is happening everywhere, there are 2 locations with invading plecos in massive numbers driving native species to none existent in China right now. Do people not have any brains?

[@matthewparker82]

People seem to think that because they live in water and there's a stream next to there house they will release them there so they can have a better life not thinking about consequences and it's shocking

[@iDerp69]

I love my pleco in my aquarium... looks just like these. However, these plecos are an invasive species and a pest, and should be culled completely.

[@HUKIT.]

It’s always shocking how much of an impact a few idiots can do to the planet.

[@evilflow7359]

Just a few? The earth is infected with idiots.

[@BFjordsman]

@@evilflow7359 lol it's exponential

[@CoinsAndCapsaicin]

So these are the same fish that normally stick to the side of a fish tank?

[@joesmith201212]

I used to live in Florida back in the 70s and I kept a few in my tank but they got too big so I just released them in to the near by stream, I do always wonder how are they doing now?

[@sonofaquack6987]

Oh, probably wasn’t the best idea lol

[@pixazelz]

you should be ashamed it was really shitty doing that

[@rustyshackleford2627]

Omg there’s thousands and thousands of them and they are pleco’s..!!!!! I have one in my 55 gallon aquarium and that’s where he’s gonna stay..!!!

[@BFjordsman]

Once a pleco get over 6 inches it's useless. If your tank is non aggressive ,otocincalus cats 1per 10gallons is the way to go

[@shooter-ey9dv]

@@BFjordsman you can get more otos than that I have 6 in a 20 gallon if someone had to follow that rule if you had ten you would have to get a 100 gallon they don't take up that much space

[@BFjordsman]

@@shooter-ey9dv your right, I should have specified my number was a minimum to keep glass clean

[@shooter-ey9dv]

@@BFjordsman oh ok you also forgot that they need to be in a shoal of 6 (people might tell you 3 so they are more likely to sell you the fish)

[@imanuelyulio521]

In my homeland, they have economical value. Their meats can be the ingredient of some delicacies like "otak-otak", "somay" or "cilok". Maybe you can send them to my place. lol 🤣🤣 🤣🤣

[@didiasroni399]

Mana ada ikan sapu2 di olah?? Otak2 dan siomay pake ikan laut.

[@imanuelyulio521]

Iya.

[@harunmasiku5686]

Mamang siomay ciliwung ngapa nyasar dimari???

[@wisnusutopo127]

Dibikin sate lilit jg bisa

[@rogereisenfaust8983]

Otak otak is made of saltwater fish. Siomay is typically made of chicken ffs and sometimes saltwater fish as well. Besides, siomay is a Chinese food anyway. There's no way they're intended to be made of such a toxic and fairly harmful species as plecos in mind. Don't spread false information, dumbass.

[@brianbaker253]

i have been there and seen them, there is some really good fishing just outside the river enterance

[@larrylarry1368]

This type of fish is unbelievable. I did an unintentional experiment years ago. I was changing water of my fish tank and I had a pleco fish about 6 inch long. I put all my fishes in a bucket and placed the pleco in a small tank separately. The small tank had nearly no room for the pleco to swim. I placed the bucket and the small tank at the balcony. I took the bucket of fishes back to the fish tank after I changed the tank water. But forgot about the pleco. The pleco was left in a small tank at the balcony for a month. Given there were rainy days and sunny days in that month. One day I went to the balcony to pick up something and I saw the pleco. It was very much alive and well.

[@shyampatel4820]

In some parts plecos are high in demand for their meat !! So May be they should start a big pleco fish eating movement (or make cat food) !!! After all We humans are experts at eradicating animals for our bellies 😁 this will solve the problem !!

[@wstein244]

That last sentence. Savage!

[@ianramos905]

Well in this case that maybe the thing we need to eradicate the infestation.

[@jaduenas]

The situation is out of hand here in Florida... :(

[@cmerton]

Every situation imaginable is out of hand in Florida.

[@mariasurio6388]

Fishkeepers: *it's free real estate*

[@stonyxpress7079]

Do they allow public to go there n catch some of these? Or just letting the game n fish ppl do it?

[@BigDsmoke]

I've seen footage like this of divers swimming through thousands o flippin plecos. Goldfish invasions are bad in lakes in some parts of the country too. I've heard of invasive plants too its insane & a huge huge problem

[@TheLisamac01]

That’s intense! I’ve never seen anything like this , it’s so sad to see this happening. The carelessness of some people is ultimately threatening certain species 🙁 thank you for sharing

[@StevePolandAquatics]

I agree Lisa, it’s awful.

[@bryanjordan8876]

Agree, but it literally only takes 1 or 2 people to be careless for this to happen. Once the fish has its first eggs that hatch, its over for the whole ecosystem. All it takes is 1 screw up to ruin a whole ecosystem, think about it.

[@BFjordsman]

You have to be selfish piece of **** human to own exotic animals in the first place. Why wouldn't they carelessly release them into the wild once they were of no more use

[@bryanjordan8876]

You might as well take it the next step and say include ALL animals (including cats and dogs) in that statement. These guys aren't really exotic, and they damn sure aren't endangered species. These guys are no more exotic than your average guppy, oscar, or goldfish. So anyone who has a fish aquarium is a "selfish piece of ** human"? Rarely does anyone have a pet specifically for the pets sake, so are we all selfish?

[@BFjordsman]

@@bryanjordan8876 yes

[@redc9787]

if you can't catch em, can we trap em? i heard they are good for aquariums as janitors.

[@notfrank6586]

did the guy using his hand to catch the fish ever though of I don't know a harpoon? pr was this more of a demonstration and he was not actually trying to catch it?

[@ZODAGAWD]

I would love to spend my free time trying to catch as many as possible by coming up with different fish traps!!!

[@mikef3300]

Seems like they could be herded it a net and removed pretty easily from watching the video.

[@blaze4487]

Mike Ferguson i had the same thought. Net them. Problem is they needs to be a market for them

[@Sg-bg7xp]

Hell net them a drop them on the shore. No way can that many grown plecos be marketed in the pet world. Maybe as food. HEY FLORIDA COULD START THEIR OWN DOG AND CAT FOOD BUSINESS! FUELED BY INVASIVE FISH AND REPTILES! Problem solved

[@usetobeasurferchick]

Grind them up for fish emulsion fertilizer, sell the meat to cat food companies. This bleeding heart attitude of "they are destroying everything, but we can't hurt them... WAHHHHHHH!!!!" is crazy. Just like the monkeys at silver springs. Some kid is going to get torn up by a troupe of them and THEN someone will do something.

[@Sg-bg7xp]

@@usetobeasurferchick exactly. I think, given the right game plan, this could be lucrative for the state. Hell Florida, fund me and i will get this going! Me and emmausroad will figure this stuff out!!! Im after snake heads hogs and iguanas as well. Alive pays more.

[@fishyfishyfishy500akabs8]

One thing thouh, these PESTS tear holes in nets, and in the Philippines here, we also have pleco problems, and these things are annoying as hell

[@billderinbaja3883]

3 questions: (1) Are Pleko edible and good? (2) When are you calling the local spearfishing clubs? (3) Can you pay a small bounty, say $0.25 per fish? If so, that population will be thinned to nothing in a few weeks.

[@DevinCarmichael]

Let me bring a pole spear into the spring and I will remove all of the plecos.