Invasive fish – neon and zebra-striped – caught for first time in Texas, officials warn

A vibrant and potentially destructive non-native fish was recently caught in Texas for the first time, wildlife officials warn.

The invasive fish, a hybrid peacock cichlid, was pulled out of the South Fork San Gabriel River, near Leander, the state Parks and Wildlife Department said in an Aug. 9 Facebook post. Leander is a roughly 25-mile drive northwest from Austin.

Officials shared a photo of the exotic fish, with its neon blue and orange coloring and dark zebra stripe pattern running along its body.

While there are different species of cichlids, the peacock cichlid is native to Africa’s Lake Malawi, according to experts. So what is the fish doing so far from home?

“This was likely an aquarium released fish,” parks officials said. “Never dump your tank!”

This marks the first known time the fish has been caught in the wild not only in Texas, but anywhere in the United States, according to the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database operated by the U.S. Geological Survey

Non-native species, from plants, to animals, to fish, can take a terrible toll on native ecosystems, officials said. When getting rid of aquarium fish, it’s crucial not to let them out into nature. They should instead be rehomed with another owner, sold, or if all else fails, euthanized, according to TPWD.

This story was originally published August 11, 2024 at 11:04 AM with the headline "Invasive fish – neon and zebra-striped – caught for first time in Texas, officials warn."