Diet and Feeding Habits

Abstract

The feeding habits and diet of northern snakeheads were studied in 2007 and 2008. Fish were captured by boat electrofishing at all times of the day. Diet was compared to that of North American species, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, longnose gar and American Eel. Data are currently being analyzed, and results will be reported here and published in a scientific manuscript. Over 500 adult snakeheads were captured and dissected. Initial results suggest that snakeheads feed more actively during the morning hours and on outgoing tides. Feeding activity was also highest in May after water temperatures warmed and before spawning began in June. Over 20 prey items (mostly fishes) were detected, with banded killifish as the most common prey item by number, and bluegill as the most important prey item by weight. Diet was most similar to largemouth bass; however, bass had a wider diet breadth and a much stronger preference for crayfish. A few schools of juvenile northern snakehead were captured and dissected, and were found to consume a wide variety of macroinvertebrates.