Don't dump your aquarium in the river': San Antonio officials warn locals about non-native species - mySA

Officials are reminding residents to not dump their aquariums in the San Antonio River after finding non-native species that are wreaking havoc on the attraction's ecosystem. 

The San Antonio River Authority detailed in a blog post on Friday, November 12, how two invasive species are negatively impacting the river. The species are the plecostomus and the vermiculated sailfin catfish, both commonly referred to as armored catfish.

According to the River Authority, aquarium hobbyists purchase non-native species from pet stores for their homes. However, when they outgrow the tanks, officials believe some owners choose to release the non-native organisms into local creeks — and the San Antonio River. 

"While they may be well-intentioned, these citizens are unknowingly wreaking havoc on the San Antonio River ecosystem," the blog post stated. "These fish burrow into riverbanks, leading to erosion and even bank collapse."

Additionally, the burrowing activity from the two species increase the water's murkiness, which in turn increases the temperature of the water and will lead to a decrease in the oxygen present in the water to support the native fish, freshwater mussels, and aquatic insects. 

The catfish can often be found eating algae that has accumulated on the concrete channel walls that line the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River, the blog post added. Its insatiable hunger for algae has even been associated with a decline in the number of central stoneroller, an algae-eating fish native to the San Antonio River.

"These armored catfish, as well as another invasive species called the apple snail (Pomascea sp.), cause serious harm to ecosystems in which they are introduced, much to the detriment of all the native species we strive to protect," the San Antonio River Authority stressed.

If you see any sighting of someone dumping into the river, you can report it by calling the agency at 866-345-7272.

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