LEANDER, Texas — Officials are warning anglers about a beautiful exotic fish recently caught in Central Texas.
The aulonocara species of fish, better known as Peacock Cichlids, are native to Lake Malawi in East Africa. Officials say one of these invasive fish was recently caught near Austin.
According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the non-native fish along the South Fork San Gabriel River, roughly 30 miles north of Austin.
Fish like the Cichlids are popular for aquariums because of their vibrant colors, but they should not be released into public bodies of water. Officials say they often carry disease and fungal infections.
The aulonocara is also particularly territorial and aggressive, so they pose a threat to the ecosystems while competing for spaces where they don't belong.
What to do if you catch the fish
Officials say if you manage to reel one in, don't let it back into the water.
Instead, record the location and send a photo of it to AquaticInvasives@tpwd.texas.gov.
If you have one of these exotic fish at home, you're also asked not to dump your aquarium in Texas waterbodies or flush them down the toilet.
Instead, if your fish is healthy, you should try to find it a new home by either giving it away to a friend or even giving it back to the store you bought it from. Donating the fish to schools, businesses or aquarium hobbyists is also an option if you can't sell or trade it.
Your last option is to humanly euthanize the fish by using an FDA-approved drug for fish euthanasia or clove oil.