Don’t dump that fish

BILLABONGS, lakes and other freshwater environments across the Top End provide perfect habitat for native fish such as barramundi, saratoga, rainbowfish and tarpon, but these habitats can also be suitable for non-native tropical fish

Common non-native tropical fish such as guppies, platies and oscars which would otherwise perish in colder climates will survive and flourish in our tropical waters.

BILLABONGS, lakes and other freshwater environments across the Top End provide perfect habitat for native fish such as barramundi, saratoga, rainbowfish and tarpon, but these habitats can also be suitable for non-native tropical fish.

It is important to remember that common non-native tropical fish such as guppies, platies and oscars which would otherwise perish in colder climates will survive and flourish in our tropical waters.

Waterways around suburbia tend to be places where non-native fish can become established.

Often, a combination of factors such as higher risk of being dumped, a lack of predators, plenty of food and the ability to reproduce quickly can help them get a foothold. If released into natural waterways, non-native fish compete with natives for food and space, dominate waterways by reproducing in large numbers and disturb natural habitats.

The introduced fish may feed on many types of native fish, insects, plants and also have the potential to introduce diseases and parasites.