Invasive armored catfish causing harm to Florida’s manatees - NBC2 News

FORT MYERS, Fla.– There is another invasive species causing problems in Florida. It's a fish, with a suit of armor, known as Plecostomus, or "Pleco" or the Armored Catfish. 

Despite the fact that it only eats algae, it's causing problems with one of Florida's most at-risk species.

Dozens of these fish can be seen clinging to the backs of manatees, feeding on the algae that grow on their backs.

Imagine being swarmed by a cloud of mosquitoes, that's what these feel like to the sea cows. 

During the winter months, manatees often seek warmth in shallow freshwaters, like the Caloosahatchee. But it's those same waters that have become infested with these armored catfish.

Scientists like Dr. Missy Gibbs are worried that this is becoming a problem. 

"Catfish were just all over the manatees, we wondering what kind of behavioral changes that would induce, was it bothering them?" Gibbs said. "We found it was a statistically significant effect, but the catfish were absolutely changing the behavior of the manatees." 

The fresh waters of the Caloosahatchee are a perfect habitat for these catfish, which are native to the Amazon, and arrived through the aquarium trade. 

"Florida is a great environment for some of these species, so that's why we have so many invasives in the area," local fisherman Nick Pisculli said. He said you can find this catfish almost in any freshwater body of water. 

"Ponds, retention ponds, small lakes, they are pretty plentiful," Pisculli explained.

FWC says these fish are almost impossible to exterminate, and with so many threats already to manatees, one more is still a concern. 

"So if they are having to be a lot more active trying to get catfish off of them, then they are burning more calories, and will have to go out earlier, and they'll get cold, which is very dangerous for them." Dr. Gibbs added.