Amur sleeper
Perccottus glenii
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Photo credit: ©Michal Grabowski
Perccottus glenii
Common Names:
Habitat:
Description:
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
Potential or Known Impacts:
How did it/could it get here?
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention:
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
Perccottus glenii
Common Names:
- Amur sleeper
- Chinese sleeper
- Rotan
Habitat:
- Freshwater ponds
- Canals
- Rivers
- Floodplains
- Fish ponds
- Gravel pits
Description:
- The Amur sleeper is a small, streamlined fish, native to North Korea and far eastern Russia.
- It grows up to 25cm, and 250g in weight. The maximum age recorded is 7 years.
- This species can survive in extreme conditions, including standing water, low oxygen content, a wide range of temperatures, and poor water chemical composition.
Origin and Worldwide Distribution:
- The Amur sleeper is a small, streamlined fish, native to North Korea and far eastern Russia.
- It is now one of the most widespread and successful invasive fish species in European inland waters, especially in ponds in Eastern Europe and in large parts of the Danube, the Vistula and other river basins.
- The species is currently present in Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
Potential or Known Impacts:
- The Amur sleeper is a voracious predator. It can have a significant negative impact on native aquatic species, especially amphibians and other freshwater fish, not only through competition for food and predation but also possibly through the transmission of diseases and the disruption of the food chain.
How did it/could it get here?
- The Amur sleeper was kept in aquaria and used as live bait, so intentional and unintentional releases were occurring frequently.
- Stowaway individuals in consignments of other fish species is probably the most important pathway of introduction and spread.
Is it found in Northern Ireland?
- Not present in Northern Ireland.
You can help by reporting any sightings: @ the Centre for Environmental Data & Recording (CEDaR) - Or via the iRecord App.
Methods for Prevention:
- Given the difficulties and the costs associated with eradicating or controlling this species, management of potential pathways and the rapid eradication of any newly emerging populations should prevent the species from spreading into yet unaffected water bodies.
- Stowaway individuals in consignments of other fish species is probably the most important pathway of introduction and spread.
- Do not release this species into the wild.
- Report all sightings on.
Current Legislative Position (Listed on 03 August 2016)
- This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.