How 'Devil Fish' Invaded North America. Could Pet Treats Be The Solution? | True Cost | Insider News

The invasive armored catfish made its way from Brazil about 20 years ago and has now overrun lakes and rivers across Mexico and the US.

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How 'Devil Fish' Invaded North America. Could Pet Treats Be The Solution? | True Cost | Insider News

[nickbovee]

As an aquarium hobbyist, I can tell you these things are often mislabeled as "algae eaters". Naturally, they eat bark and wood that has fallen in the river, but not algae per se. People probably threw them out because they do a lousy job as an algae eater 😅.

[brunocauin]

In Brazil, "cascudos" (plecos), are not only desirable for eating, they were fished to the point of being nearly eradicated in some rivers. I've eaten them both fried and in stew. It was absolutely delicious. If people can get past the turn off of how they look, they are a good eating fish.

[bw]

This is so unfortunate, but always makes me proud to see people think outside the box and try to make the best out of a bad situation!

[bankait_rex]

Me watching this video and my pleco in my tank starring at me like, hey buddy I been with you for over 15 years do not even think about it! lol.

[johnnyr]

I place a huge blame on places like PetSmart and Petco who sell these fish like crazy as "algae eaters" and don't tell customers they get to a huge size and don't really eat algae.

[ZeroDan]

Having worked at a Petco I absolutely loathe the fact that this is the most common fish people want next to goldfish. No matter how many times I warned customers that it’s gonna outgrow there small 10 gallon tank they are insistent. Then they try and bring it back to the store but like come on it’s a petco with tiny little tanks. Had one lady who said every time it got too big she’d just throw it in the trash. People have no respect for fish and are too lazy to actually maintain the tank so instead get a fish that actually makes the tank even dirtier just for a glorified window wiper. Of course there are smaller species like the bristle nose but there is never enough being sent and they always come in the size of a penny which deters impatient customers. Please people don’t buy fish that are incompatible with your tank. And if you must at least be considerate and don’t release these fish out in the wild. Fish like these and goldfish are extremely hardy and will absolutely destroy the ecosystem. Someone out there will want your fish just please be patient and do your research.

[phestojen]

I started drooling when she mentioned that they taste like freshwater bass but with a firmer texture. Imagining the crunchy fried outside with a meaty texture inside while having the flavor of fish mingle with the sauces and lime to give it an extra pop of bright freshness. I want to try this fish now! One of my main gripes with fried fish is when it's too soft and delicate to the point that it's like eating deep fried air.

[GoodLivingTT]

That is almost a national dish in my country of Trinidad 🇹🇹. We stuff them with green seasoning and pigeon peas, fry them, then add them to a curry. There's a saying here that if you're a visitor to our island and you eat a "Cascadou", (which is what we call them), then you're bound to return to eat it again before your time on earth is up.

[jaywilliams]

I had one for many years in my fish tank. Never thought of it as food but glad people are making the most of it and coming up with ways to consume it.

[orourke]

They are Plecos or Plecostomus. They have been in every fish pet store for the last 30 years. I personally have one. He turned 22 this year. They can live a very long time with proper care.

[ChibiHoshiDragon]

We have BEEN eating them (bodó) here in Brazil.

You can marinate it with lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil and grill it
You can make Piracui out of it (fish "flour")

Caldo de Peixe Acari-Bodó
1 kg Acari-Bodó
1 large onion chopped/minced
2 minced garlic
1 chopped bell pepper
2 tomatoes diced
1 liter water
I T olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Clean and cube fish
In a pan, sauté in olive oil, the onion, garlic and bell pepper
Add tomatoes and cook 5 more minutes
Add the fish and water and cook on low heat for 30 minutes
Add salt and pepper to taste and serve


Maionese de Bodó
cube fish and sauté with garlic and onion - cool
cube and cook potatoes - cool
cube and cook carrots - cool
cube apples
raisins
chopped pickles
cubed heart of palm
mayonnaise
mix and serve decorated with sliced hard boiled egg, sliced tomatoes and Greek (purple-black) olives

[arnaldorentes]

Here in Southeast Brazil, this fish is called "cascudo", which means thick and strong skin, like a shell. In fact, it is a different species but very similar. The most traditional culinary use is as a soup or stew, due to the firm meat and intense flavor. Here's the tip, for the Mexican brothers.

[redbloodedbutterfly]

Pet treats are a niche market that likely has far lower restrictions than pet food. Pet food would have to meet certain nutritional guidelines. I'd like to know if any of these invasive fish are used for fertilizer. I've seen "Fish emulsion" sold as organic fertilizer in the US.

[timmygunz]

They can survive out of water for 2 days if in a dark wet area. My buddy got all drunk and threw his giant fish tank off his deck. We went to check the damage out couple days later all the fish were dead but the plecostomus was just chillin under a rhubarb leaf. Still alive to this day

[Miamcoline]

The Insider is so good at these types of reports. Really amazing to see someone find a sustainable business-friendly solution to invasive species! Great stuff!

[marsbase]

I love how someone found a way to help remedy this invasive situation that helps control the population, but also helps the locals maintain their livelihood. 👍

[Scrat]

My mother was an ichthyologist. She worked with game fish populations in Montana and Idaho. These Plecos are a species which is ubiquitous across the globe. I remember catching them with gloved hands as a kid in the Kootenai river. The biggest problem is their defense of spiny fins (one spine on the dorsal fin very strong and sharp) makes it all but impossible for larger predatory fish to eat. They have very tough and durable skin. They in fact are omnivores. They can destroy the eggs of other fish species quickly.

[cecagna]

The most annoying thing about this fish is how difficult they look to process. I'm a fisherman myself and sometimes process skates, which are quite difficult to skin, but these plecos are next level.

[aaroniouse]

Maybe if it's called "armored catfish" it will sell better than "devilfish".

[TheKevinGeee]

The same thing has happened in the Philippines. Both the devil fish and knife fish were introduced to Laguna Lake (Laguna de bay).
These invasive species have made it difficult for fishermen.