parambassis ranga , commonly known as the indian glassy fish , indian glassy perch or indian x-ray fish , is a species of freshwater fish in the asiatic glassfish family ambassidae of order perciformes .

it is native to an area of south asia from pakistan to malaysia .

the indian glassy fish has a striking transparent body revealing its bones and internal organs ; the male develops a dark edge to the dorsal fin .

the fish grows to a maximum overall length of 80 mm ( 3.1 in ) .

it occurs in standing water , especially in impoundments , and it breeds prolifically during the rainy season .

the species feeds on crustaceans , annelid worms , and other invertebrates .

it is , in turn , prey for larger fish , including snakeheads ( family channidae ) .

the indian glassy fish is not important as a food fish for humans , but is very common in the aquarium trade .

formerly classified as chanda ranga , the species is also known as the indian glassfish , indian glass perch , and siamese glassfish .

parambassis ranga

glassfish under the acropora . pesci vetro sotto un acropora . ( parambassis ranga ) by omar flumignan
our first encounter with dyed fish was back in the late 1980s . thousands of artificially coloured glassfish , parambassis ranga ( formerly chanda ranga ) were imported into the uk .
a . k . a . , parambassis ranga - - seen at the california academy of sciences in golden gate state park , san francisco .
giant glassfish ( parambassis gulliveri ) , darwin , northern territory , australia . by michael j barritt
glass fish ( parambassis ranga ) at the sydney aquarium . this type of fish is often sold in pet stores with neon stripes painted on them . they are much more attractive in their natural state .
considered valid as pseudambassis ranga ( hamilton , 1822 ) by eschmeyer and fricke ( 2012 ) .
macro of a tiny glass fish a . k . a . indian glassy fish ( scientific name : parambassis ranga ) . this one measured only a mere 1 . 2 centimeters from head to tail . the fish was laid on a glass bowl that ' s pretty old , hence all the scratches .
ambassis ranga : day , 1878 ; day , 1889 ; shaw and shebbeare , 1937 ; ahmad , n . 194 ; bhuiyan , 1964 .
species name : parambassis ranga synonym : ambassis alta , ambassis barlovi , ambassis notatus , ambassis ranga , chanda ranga , pseudambassis notatus , pseudambassis ranga common names : glassfish , indian glassfish family : ambassidae order : perciformes class : actinopterygii max . size : 8 cm / 3 inches environment : fresh water origin : asia . pakistan , india , bangladesh , myanmar , thailand , and malaysia . temperament : peaceful , timid company : other small peaceful fish . water parameters : ph 7 . 0 - 8 . 2 , temperature 20 - 30°c / 68 - 86° f aquarium setup : parambassis ranga ( indian glassfish ) can be kept in small aquariums . decorate aquarium with free areas to swim in the middle and heavily planted areas around the sides . use rocks to create caves and hiding places . fish are easier to keep healthy if a small amount of salt is added to the water . feeding : accepts most foods including flakes . breeding : easy . raising the temperature and conducting water changes may trigger spawning . eggs are laid on broad leaved plants . the fry can be hard to raise .
the indian glassfish ( parambassis ranga ) is a lovely and unusual fish , that has been in the hobby / industry for many years . unfortunately , most of the indian glassfish that you will see in local fish stores are the “painted” or “dyed” ones , which should be avoided like the plague ; more on that later , i assure you .
the humphead glassfish tetra or the parambassis pulcinella come from the rivers and streams of myanmar and thailand . it apparently was not scientifically described till 2003 . i haven ' t found why it has a hump though .
nonetheless , this fish does best when kept in a dark , thickly planted tank alongside neons , cardinals , and other small , blackwater fish . while this fish resembles parambassis lala , the males are distinguished by their elongated dorsal and anal fin rays .
no fewer than three species are imported as common or indian glassfish , and in general , no attempt is made by the retailers to separate them . fortunately , all require much the same conditions to do well . the only difference between them is size  at 3cm / 11 / 3
when fully grown , the smallest species , parambassis lala , is less than half the size of the largest , p . ranga . the third , p . siamensis , is somewhere between the two , averaging 5 - 6cm / 2
- 21 / 4
.
this fish is found in the clear streams , beels and canals . most abundant found during rainy season . it feeds on larvae and pupae of mosquito ( bhuiyan , 1964 ) . iqbal , et . al . ( 1995 - 96 ) also described about feeding habit of chanda ranga .
glassfish can be susceptible to fungal infections , and keeping them in slightly brackish water can prevent this . however , adding salt is not essential , and in the case of species that are strictly confined to freshwater , such as g . filamentosa and parambassis pulcinella , keeping them in brackish water over the long term will probably do more harm than good .
besides being muddled up by importers and retailers , glassfish have laboured under a variety of scientific names . older books consign all of them to the genus chanda , and many people still refer to them as such . more recently they were moved to another genus , ambassis , and this name remains common in literature . finally , some of the glassfish were divided up between two new genera , pseudambassis and parambassis .
iqbal , s . m . , mortuza , m . g . , parween , s . and hossain , m . a . 1995 - 1996 . length - weight relationship and condition factor of chanda nama ( hamilton ) and chanda ranga ( hamilton ) . rajshahi university studies ( part - b ) . 23 - 24 : p . 238 - 242 .
the situation is still far from resolved , but the three species of interest here are all in parambassis . thankfully , recent aquarium books , magazines and web sites tend to describe these fish under this name . as if the fact that you could have any one of three difficult - to - tell - apart species of glassfish in your tank wasn ' t enough , things get even more complicated when it comes to settling on their ideal water conditions .
omnivorous ( with preference for proteins ) : in the wild , this species feeds on crustaceans , earth worms and other invertebrates . in aquaria , p . ranga does best on a mix of live and frozen foods , including bloodworm , tubifex , brine shrimp , mysis shrimp and insect larvae such as glassworm . flake foods are also eagerly accepted , but shouldn ' t be fed exclusively . feed small amounts once or twice daily .
it is not inconceivable that a combination of the brackish myth , the susceptibility of the painted fish to disease and the fact that this is quite a short - lived species have given rise to the commonly held belief that this fish is hard to keep . in reality , it is a pretty and peaceful species , well - suited to many community tanks . one final point to note is that there are several other species in the genus which are often imported as p . ranga , as they look very similar . the most common of these are p . lala and p . siamensis . lala can be distinguished by it’s small ( 1 1 / 2″ ) adult size and the presence of three vertical bars behind it’s eye . ranga has a dark area behind the eye , whilst siamensis has no patterning here . p . siamensis is also a more elongate fish than the other 2 species .
previously known as chanda ranga , the common name of this species arose because it’s translucent skin means that the bone structure and internal organs are clearly visible . for many years it has been artificially injected with luminous dyes on fish farms in asia and then sold as “painted” glass fish or “disco fish” . this abhorrent act involves injecting the fish repeatedly with a large needle and most fish do not survive more than a few months afterwards . whilst painted fish of this and other species are still available in many countries , protracted campaigning has seen them virtually removed from uk stores .
there are two fish commonly referred to in the trade as glassfish ; the chanda ranga , and the chanda baculis . of these two southeast asian fish , the one most commonly used for painting would be the latter , chanda baculis . and true , in and of itself , this is no spectacular fish . obviously it’s got to be an easy catch for importers in the confines of its natural range , india , myanmar and thailand . i would speculate the initial fascination with this fish was its transparent body . you could see right inside , organs , bones , and everything . neat !
brackish or freshwater : because this fish is found in both slightly brackish and freshwater conditions , the fishkeeper may choose to replicate either habitat ( however more fish are found in freshwater distributions . ) it ' s recommended to ask the seller whether the fish has been kept in brackish or freshwater . in this way , if a change from brackish to freshwater needs to be made , it can be done gradually and without harm to the fish . clean , well - oxygenated water heated consistently to 68 – 86°f ( 20°c - 30°c ) best replicates riverine and lacustrine habitats p . ranga is native to .
p . ranga is peaceful and shy and should not be combined with vigorous or aggressive species . the choice of tankmates is also governed by the type of water in which it is being kept . in freshwater conditions , it can be kept with barbs , livebearers , smaller rainbowfish , loaches and many other small tropicals . in the brackish aquarium , mollies , bumblebee gobies and chromides are all possibilities . the indian glass fish is a shoaling species and will not do well if kept singly or in pairs . aim for a group of at least 6 . males do become somewhat territorial when spawning but physical damage is rare .
many books suggest that in an aquarium , p . wolffii does not grow any bigger than the ' dwarf ' species like p . ranga . this appears to be the result of confusion over which species was actually imported , with p . siamensis often being sold as p . wolffii . recent imports of p . wolffii have brought them in at around 10cm / 4
, and it is probably safe to say that if looked after well , these fish will continue to grow . in other words , this species shouldn ' t be bought on the hope that it will stay small if kept in a small aquarium .
glassfish have a reputation for being delicate and tricky to keep  is this because brackish water is harmful to them ? most likely not since p . lala and p . ranga are found in brackish water , albeit rarely . of the three , only p . siamensis is entirely restricted to freshwater . adding too much salt may stress them over the long term , and these fish certainly don ' t need strongly brackish conditions like scats or monos . a specific gravity of 1 . 005 or less is probably safe , which means that these fish could be mixed with bumblebee gobies , pipefish and other fish that do well in slightly brackish conditions .
body length is comparatively short from other chanda species and body is deeply compressed . head is also short and compressed and the snout is sharp . lateral line is partly distinct and partly absent . lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw . caudal forked . in shape and colour this fish resembles chanda nama but it is rather deeper in the body and shorter in length than the chanda nama . the chief distinction is in teeth which are all small in chanda ranga . the general body colour transparent yellowihs white . outer edge of both dorsals , anal and caudal tinged black . in young specimens which are locally known as “lal chanda” the body is brightly coloured with red and yellow . dorsals , anal and caudal scarlet is red . first dorsal and pelvic black tipped . the morphological description of this species is quite similar to rahman ( 2005 ) , bhuiyan ( 1964 ) , yadav ( 1997 ) and talwar and jhingran ( 2001 ) .
greek , para = near + greek , ambassis , anabasis = climbing up ( ref . 45335 )
freshwater ; brackish ; demersal ; ph range : 7 . 0 - 8 . 0 ; dh range : 9 - 19 ; potamodromous ( ref . 51243 ) . tropical ; 20°c - 30°c ( ref . 1672 ) ; 38°n - 1°n
asia : pakistan , india , bangladesh , myanmar , thailand , malaysia ( ref . 4833 ) and nepal ( ref . 9496 ) .
maturity : l m ? range ? - ? cm max length : 8 . 0 cm tl male / unsexed ; ( ref . 1479 )
found in sluggish and standing water . a common species proliferating in impoundments . most abundant during the rainy season . feeds on invertebrates ( ref . 12693 ) , worms and crustaceans ( ref . 7020 ) . breeds everywhere during the rains . builds a nest and guards its young . rare in markets and often found in the aquarium trade ( ref . 12693 ) . aquarium keeping : in groups of 5 or more individuals ; minimum aquarium size 60 cm ( ref . 51539 ) .
roberts , t . r . , 1994 . systematic revision of tropical asian freshwater glassperches ( ambassidae ) , with descriptions of three new species . nat . hist . bull . siam soc . 42 : 263 - 290 . ( ref . 10429 )
phylogenetic diversity index ( ref . 82805 ) : pd 50 = 0 . 5000 [ uniqueness , from 0 . 5 = low to 2 . 0 = high ] .
bayesian length - weight : a = 0 . 01479 ( 0 . 00728 - 0 . 03004 ) , b = 3 . 04 ( 2 . 86 - 3 . 22 ) , in cm total length , based on lwr estimates for this species & ( sub ) family - body ( ref . 93245 ) .
trophic level ( ref . 69278 ) : 3 . 3 ±0 . 39 se ; based on food items .
resilience ( ref . 69278 ) : high , minimum population doubling time less than 15 months ( preliminary k or fecundity . fec = 500 . ) .
vulnerability ( ref . 59153 ) : low vulnerability ( 20 of 100 ) .
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disclaimer : itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available , and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties . however , it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes . while every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and up - to - date information available , ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in provisions of treaties to which the united states is a party , wildlife statutes , regulations , and any applicable notices that have been published in the federal register . for further information on u . s . legal requirements with respect to protected taxa , please contact the u . s . fish and wildlife service .
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justification : the species is common or uncommon fish throughout its range and no threat recognized recently , it is assessed as least concern .
the species has an enormous range , from pakistan ( north west frontier province , punjab , sinh and azad kashmir ; mirza 2002 ) , the nepalese terai , india ( most of india , including the ganges drainage , the western ghats rivers , and chilka lake in orissa ; ( talwar and jhingran 1991 ) to the ayeyarwaddy and sittaung drainages in myanmar . records of the species from the salween basin in myanmar and thailand ( where it has also been recorded from the pai river , mai hong song province , and songkhla in peninsular thailand ) probably refer to other species ( c . vidthayanon pers . comm . 2012 ) . introduced elsewhere ( e . g . , japan ) .
common in suitable habitats throughout its range , less common in middle reaches and tributaries of the salween in thailand .
there is little fishery interest , though it is sometimes mixed with small foodfishes . this species is rarely found in the aquarium trade .
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india , pakistan , nepal , bangaldesh , myanmar , thailand , malaysia , cambodia , japan .
a dark substrate will help to make this shy species less nervous and encourage it to display its best colours . provide cover by planting some areas of the tank densely , along with some floating vegetation . rocks and driftwood can also be used . the fish can live in both freshwater and slightly brackish conditions .
males have blue edging to the dorsal and anal fins and are a slightly deeper yellow on the body than females . these differences are more apparent when the fish are breeding , as the colours become more intense . the swim bladder ( which is clearly visible ) has a pointed back edge in males .
not too difficult , although the fry are difficult to raise . provide the fish with a heavily planted aquarium of around 30″ x 12″ x 12″ . stock it with 6 - 8 adult fish . it is an advantage if the tank is situated so that it recieves direct sunlight in the morning . condition the group with a high quality , varied diet . during this period , maintain them at a temperature of around 70 - 75°f . a ph around neutral should be fine .
when the fish are inbreeding condition ( look for an intensifying of the colours of the males , and round bellies on the females ) , perform a large water change with warmer water ( around 80 - 84°f ) in the evening . the fish should spawn the following morning . each pair may deposit up to 200 eggs , and these will be found amongst the vegetation , stuck to plant leaves and stems . the adult fish can be removed at this point .
the eggs are very sensitive to fungussing and the entire tank should be dosed with a weak solution of methylene blue , or similar , in order to prevent this . they will hatch in around 24 hours and will be seen hanging from the plants . they become free swimming in another 3 - 4 days . they are quite difficult to raise , as they do not actively seek food . instead they wait for morsels to drift by . we suggest feeding quite heavily with brine shrimp nauplii and creating a slow current in the tank . regular small water changes will be required in order to keep the water conditions perfect .
now to dispel a myth about glass fish . according to most resources ( including the majority of internet sites ) , this species requires the addition of salt to its water to keep it at it’s best , often stating that it is susceptible to fungal infections when kept in freshwater . this is simply not true . whilst the fish can indeed be acclimatised to mildly brackish water ( and are found in brackish conditions in some of their habitats in nature ) , it is found most often in freshwater . additionally , many of these freshwater habitats actually contain quite soft , acidic water . when purchasing this fish , ask your dealer what conditions they are being kept in . if they are in freshwater , don’t be tempted to add salt to the tank when you get home , as there is no need .
this page will give a completely detailed profile of the selected fish , from a to z . the profiled fish will be chosen randomly by badman , and will come from the complete genre of tropical fish . new profiles are added on a regular basis . if you would like to submit a profile for the site please contact me . don ' t forget to let us know you experiences with this fish by filling out the
comment form . this profile was written by bunny an active contributor to the site .
these beautiful and delicate fish have the distinction of being so transparent that their bones and internal organs can be easily seen . when kept in groups of 6 or more , their timid personalities are replaced by bold and curious natures . they can be easily kept in freshwater , and also have the option of being kept in very mild brackish environment .
school of 6 : 25 gallons ( 94 . g liters ) or larger .
1 –1 . 010 ( can be kept in very mild brackish or freshwater . )
asia : pakistan , india , bangladesh , myanmar , thailand , malaysia in rivers , lakes , standing water and reservoirs ; both brackish and freshwater .
this delicate fish is deep - bodied and laterally compressed . fins are long and rounded with the exception of two separate , pointed dorsal fins ; caudal fin is moderately long and forked . back is arched . mouth is small and dorsally - located . forehead is indented slightly . eyes are relatively large .
body and fins are primarily silvery transparent with a pale amber to green iridescence . spine and other bones and internal organs are clearly visible . dorsal and anal fins of males are edged in greyish - blue . when males are in spawning condition , their amber color intensifies and fins may display a coral color proximally .
indian glassy fish have often been sold as having been
dyed
or
painted ,
a process by which numerous injections of colored dye are made into the fish ' s transparent tissue to make them more brightly colored . the process is cruel , far from painless , opens the fish up to opportunistic diseases such as fin rot , ich and lymphocystis , and has been shown to shorten their lives considerably ( from 6 months instead of their natural lifespan of approximately 5 – 8 years . )
please remember that the following comments are personal experiences and may or may not apply to your setup . use them as guide to help better understand your fish , like us all individuals will behave differently under different circumstances .
from : carol h date : 10 / 01 / 2015 timid fish ? ha ! i bought six and placed them in a 75 gallon tank that also contained a male betta i was quarantining because he was a bully . the glass fish took very little time to school together and promptly start following the betta , even taking a nip at his tail ! i tried to distract them with frozen bloodworms , and they left off . however , the betta began avoiding them whenever possible , staying under the powerful filter current that he had such a hard time swimming under . it ' s true the glass fish swim away when i approach the tank , but they are bold and curious otherwise . and they are positively rapacious when i feed them . unfortunately , they seem picky . they don ' t care for brine shrimp or freeze dried tubifex , and never notice pellets whether they float or sink . they also won ' t scavenge the bottom , even if there ' s juicy bloodworms on it . even the betta isn ' t so picky !
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d 1 . vi - vii , d 2 . i / 12 - 15 , p 1 . i / 9 - 12 , p 2 . i / 5 , a . iii / 14 - 15 .
d 1 . vii / 8 , d 2 . i / 13 - 15 , p 1 . 11 , p 2 . 6 , a . iii / 14 - 16 ( shafi and quddus , 1982 ) .
d . vii + i 11 - 14 , p 1 . i 11 - 12 , p 2 . i 5 , a . iii 13 - 15 ( talwar and jhingran , 2001 ) .
breeding time of this species is may - october . it breeds in confined water ( talwar and jhingran , 2001 ) .
this species is popular small indigenous species of fish of bangladesh . most of them are taken for drying in northern region of bangladesh . it is very much famous food in rural bangladesh . good source of nutrition but low price in the market . though it is small and bony people like it as food ( rahman , 2005 ) .
ahmad ( 1943 ) states that the fish breeds freely in confined water . in confinement , on an average it feeds on about 120 larvae and pupae of mosquito a day during the first few days but this number continues to decrease as time passes .
ahmad , n . 1943 . “fauna of lahore . 5 fishes of lahore . ” bull . dep . zoo1 punjub univ . lahore . pp . 253 - 374 .
bhuiyan , a . l . 1964 . fishes of dacca . asiatic soc . pakistan , publ . no . 13 , dacca . pp . 101 - 102 .
day , f . 1878 . fishes of india . william dowson and sons . , london . p . 51 .
day , f . 1889 . fishes . fauna . brit . india . william dowson and sons . , london . 1 - 2 : p . 484 .
hamilton , f . 1822 . fishes of the ganges . archibald constable and company , edinburgh . pp . 113 - 114 .
menon , a . g . k . 1974 . fishes of the himalayan and indo - gangetic plains . inland fisheries society of india sp . publ . 1 . p . 136 .
rahman , a . k . a . 2005 . freshwater fishes of bangladesh . the zoological society of bangladesh , dhaka . pp . 340 - 341 .
shafi , m . and quddus , m . m . a . 1982 . bangladesher matshya sampad ( in bengali ) . dhaka . pp . 268 - 269 .
shaw , g . e . and shebbeare , e . o . 1937 . fishes of northern bengal . j . royal asiat . soc . bengal science . p . 110 .
talwar , p . k . and jhingran , a . g . 2001 . inland fishes of india and adjacent countries . oxford and ibh publishing co . pvt . ltd . new delhi . 2 : pp . 805 - 806 .
yadav , b . n . 1997 . fish and fisheries . daya publishing house , calcutta . p . 320 .
ex - student , department of fisheries , university of rajshahi , rajshahi - 6205 , bangladesh . more . . .
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native fish : north - west glassfish ( ambassis sp . ) , finniss river catchment , northern territory
male has a pointed swimbladder , whereas females ' are rounded . males also have blue edging on the dorsal and anal fins and have slightly deeper yellow colouration on the body than females . these colours are at their most vibrant when the fish are spawning .
in a freshwater set up . male indian glassfish can become territorial when spawning but physical damage is rare . males can be identified by their pointed swim bladder , whereas females have a more rounded one , a slight yellow tinge to their bodies and a blue edging on their dorsal and anal fins . the males ' colors are much more vibrant when they are in spawning condition .
will not live on flake alone , and live and frozen foods should be offered regularly .
this is not actually a brackish water species despite popular belief and does best in freshwater that is slightly acidic to slightly alkaline , ph 6 . 5 to 7 . 5 . should be provided areas of cover in the from of plants and other décor .
. these fish traditionally have a transparent high - sided body with visible skeleton . if they are found with any hint of unnatural looking colour , they have been dyed and should not be purchased .
this page was last edited on 13 december 2017 , at 02 : 57 .
content is available under creative commons attribution - sharealike 3 . 0 unported license unless otherwise noted .
freshwater ; brackish ; demersal ; ph range : 7 . 0 - 8 . 0 ; dh range : 9 - 19 ; potamodromous ( ref . 51243 ) . tropical ; 20°c - 30°c ( ref . 1672 ) , preferred ? ; 38°n - 1°n
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obviously named for its translucent flesh , the glassfish is an interesting , slightly odd addition to the right aquarium . glassfish are a schooling fish , and prefer to be kept in groups of five or more . they can be kept in smaller numbers , but they will be shy and will spend much of their time hiding . even when kept in larger numbers , they tend to not be aggressive , though they can get to be very bold and energetic .
glassfish have a reputation for being difficult to keep alive , but this belief largely stems from the myth that they require brackish water to survive . in nature , these fish live in standing water such as bodies created from dammed mountain streams , not estuaries or other areas of brackish water . if they are kept in true freshwater , they seem to be fairly hardy fish , no more difficult to keep than many tetras .
i am currently unaware of the difficulty of breeding glassfish in the aquarium . in the wild , they breed prolifically during the rainy season . if the tank ' s water temperature is raised to 85° and the fish are fed a healthy diet of high protein food , they may be induced to breed in an aquarium .
one particular note about glassfish is that , due to their transparent flesh , they are often injected with fluorescent dye . the result is a glassfish with fluorescent dots floating in its body . most of these fish do not survive the dyeing process , and those that do are four times as likely to develop certain viral infections as undyed glassfish . for more information on this , check out the article on dyed fish .
to induce spawning they need slightly brackish water conditions with elevated temperatures . they may place eggs on plant leaves . raising the fry is another story all together . considered difficult .
a few specimens could likely be kept in a species - only 10g . 20g and at least five glassfish is preferable .
many . would likely make excellent dither fish in groups of five or more . would also make good
target
fish for species that get aggressive during mating . glassfish are very fast swimmers , and also seem to be playful . obviously , avoid predators large enough to eat the glassfish . purely aggressive tank mates may not be the best choice , though glassfish may do well in a tank with semi - aggressive fish and plenty of hiding places .
page includes symptoms , diagnosis and treatment info . only painted glassfish seem to be particularly susceptible to any particular disease . painting seems to encourage ich and fin rot immediately after paining , and makes the fish more likely to develop lymphocystis , a viral infection that causes white cysts on the body and fins , throughout its life .
frozen or fresh , mostly carnivorous diet . generally do not eat dry food , according to several sources . that being said , i have fed my glassfish nothing but flakes and freeze - dried bloodworms , and they are always eager to eat .
supposedly mid to bottom . this may be a result of lethargy induced by brackish water . in purely freshwater tanks , they range across the entire depth of the aquarium .
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neale monks explains how to keep the many varieties of glassfish on sale at specialist aquatic shops . here is an extract of the complete article .
glassfish are a regular fixture in tropical fish stores , though often not for the right reasons .
for many years they were almost always imported as ' disco fish ' , with fluorescent paints injected into their bodies to create brightly coloured fish that appealed to inexperienced fishkeepers .
however pretty these disco fish might be , the process of dyeing is known to harm their health , as well as being cruel and unnecessary . in particular , dyed glassfish are significantly more likely to contract lymphocystis than undyed fish .
since 1996 , practical fishkeeping has encouraged retailers not to stock these dyed fish , and disco fish are now far less frequently offered for sale than before . a knock - on effect has been that glassfish have slipped off the radar as far as many fishkeepers are concerned , and finding them can sometimes be tricky .
which is a pity as undyed glassfish have a subtle beauty that is easily overlooked when kept with brightly coloured , showier fish like fancy livebearers and neon tetras .
traditionally these were viewed as brackish fish , and most books suggest adding an amount of salt to their aquarium . however , collectors say these fish are found primarily in freshwater habitats , sometimes even soft and acidic ones .
however , the ideal water conditions are much more like those of other south - east asian freshwater fish : a neutral ph , not too hard , a steady but not overbearing water current , and plenty of oxygen . although not fussy about water chemistry , glassfish can be awkward when it comes to feeding . they rarely , if ever , accept flake , and even some frozen foods are rejected .
my glassfish don ' t show any interest in frozen bloodworm or mosquito larvae , though they enjoy both as live food . frozen lobster eggs , by contrast , are readily accepted and make an inexpensive and convenient staple food . frozen lobster eggs are sometimes difficult to find  look for them in stores specialising in marine invertebrates since they ' re primarily used to feed corals and giant clams . each egg is tiny , but they ' re rich in fat and protein , and the glassfish seem to go wild for them , darting about , snapping up the eggs .
a newcomer to the hobby is the hump - head glassfish , p . pulcinella . only discovered in 2003 , it has already become something of a staple and while expensive , is relatively easy to obtain . a classic oddball , this fish not only retains the silvery transparency of the smaller glassfish species , but also sports a spectacular nuchal hump .
males have more strongly developed humps than females , and by any standards , these are extraordinary fish . p . pulcinella is a schooling fish , and given that this species grows to around 20cm / 8
, it is obviously best suited to a large aquarium . not much is known about the health of this fish in captivity , but since the fish normally inhabits fast - flowing waters , good filtration and plenty of oxygen are probably crucial to long - term health .
in terms of social behaviour , p . pulcinella is a bit problematic . as with many schooling fish , there is a definite pecking order within the group and if too few are kept , dominant specimens will harass weaker individuals . you probably want to keep at least six specimens , ideally ten or more . if you only have the option of keeping three or four specimens , the safest approach is to keep just a single male in the tank , on the assumption that the most aggressive fish within a school tend to be the males .
another giant glassfish is p . wolffii . like p . pulcinella , it is an inhabitant of fresh , not brackish , water and is very widely distributed in slow - moving rivers throughout south - east asia . an adult p . wolffii is an impressive fish despite not being particularly transparent , with sturdy , spiny fins and a rather menacing face !
these fish probably have most appeal to those with an interest in oddball predators , which these most definitely are . at an adult length of 20 / 8
cm , it can easily swallow fish as large as platies and small barbs . on the other hand , it is completely peaceful with gouramis , catfish and barbs of comparable size .
by far the most infrequently imported glassfish , though many would say also the most beautiful , is gymnochanda filamentosa .
this fish is an inhabitant of acidic , blackwater streams similar to those associated with discus , though it does tolerate hard or slightly brackish water surprisingly well .
of all the glassfish , this species is generally considered the most delicate , and it is best left to advanced hobbyists .
keeping glassfish generally presents no problems once the fish are settled in and feeding properly . the main problem is that many fish may not have eaten much over the weeks that they have been in the fish shop .
since glassfish usually refuse flake or dried foods , if they have not been provided with live or frozen foods , they can quickly become weak and disease prone . ask the retailer what the glassfish have been fed on : if the answer is flake food , you can assume that the fish will be underweight and will need to be looked after especially well once you bring them home .
they are not particularly disease - prone , though whitespot can be a problem . some glassfish , most notably gymnochanda filamentosa , do not have any scales on their bodies and are in fact very sensitive to skin parasites . fortunately , glassfish respond well to commercial whitespot treatments .
glassfish are generally not aggressive , and the smaller species prefer to be kept with quiet tankmates . persistently aggressive species like the larger cichlids , pufferfish and some of the sharks and loaches are bad choices , even for the larger species of glassfish . on the other hand , the small species get along very well with small community fish , and since they are fast - moving midwater fish , they manage to keep out of the way of territorial dwarf cichlids like microgeophagus ramirezi and pelvicachromis pulcher .
in short , glassfish are ideal for the peaceful community , much misunderstood over the years , but beginning to be truly appreciated by those looking for something a bit different .
* this thread is an item from practical fishkeeping magazine website ' s articles rss feed , brought to you by courtesy of aq ' s rss feed poster robot . *
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indian glassfish are found in nature , as the first name of the fish suggests , in the region of india and other countries such as pakistan and malaysia . as the second name would indicate , the indian glassfish has a totally transparent body – “clear as glass . ” all of the bones can be clearly seen , as can the organ sac and some individual organs . the fish has a slightly yellowish cast to the body overall , but it is the fact that the body is transparent that really defines the fish .
indian glassfish have had a bad reputation as being a difficult fish to keep . most of this is because of a myth that has been powerful in the aquarium hobby / industry for many years that indian glassfish require salt in their water ; often it is erroneously stated that they require “brackish” water . a small amount of salt is fine for almost any fish . keeping a freshwater fish in brackish water will , in fact , lead to their difficulty in keeping . please note : this topic of whether indian glassfish require salt in their water , or even brackish water , is somewhat controversial . i base my statement that they do not need salt on talking with suppliers in the far east , and on my own experience . i freely acknowledge that others take the “they need salt” point of view .
once we have established that the indian glassfish does not need salt in its water , the other water parameters it requires are very simple to achieve , as they are wide ranges . ph should be in the range from 6 . 5 to 7 . 5 , with moderate hardness . they do well at a wide temperature range from 70 to 85 degrees f . indian glassfish do best in schools of five or more fish , and they like to have some thickets of plants where they can hide . they can be a bit nippy toward each other , but will usually not bother any other tank mates . indian glassfish are not , however , above eating any small tetra or other fish that can fit into their mouth .
for regular feeding they initially may require frozen , freeze - dried or live brine shrimp , mysis shrimp or bloodworms , but usually they will accommodate to dry prepared foods as they become accustomed to their surroundings . when you buy your indian glassfish it is a good idea to ask the local fish store what they are eating – and ask them to feed the indian glassfish before you purchase them .
indian glassfish are typical egg scatterers , although they are not frequently bred by hobbyists . this may be because of the reputation that these fish have for being difficult to keep , let alone breed . or it may simply be because there are so many other interesting fish to devote your tanks , time and money to getting to breed . if you do successfully breed indian glassfish i am sure that your local fish store would be pleased to buy the babies from you when they are up to a reasonable size .
unfortunately , the original form of indian glassfish ( how they are in nature ) are not what is seen most often in local fish stores . instead , what many stores offer are the “painted” or “dyed” indian glassfish , which they sell under various names . these fish are the natural indian glassfish that has either been injected with dyes in small spots in a pattern on the fish , or where the entire fish has been dyed some horrific purple , green or other color .
this is a painted indian glass fish . these are injected with a dye and should be avoided . photo by quatermass / wikipedia
if my bias is coming through on this issue – good ! i feel very strongly that painted and dyed fish have no place in our hobby / industry . many store owners who i know well , and respect , carry painted and dyed fish . their argument is “if i don’t carry painted glassfish my customers will go to joe’s fish store to buy them . ” sorry , but i do not buy that line of reasoning . there are , in fact , many stores who will have nothing to do with painted or dyed fish , and their business are thriving . please – do not buy painted or dyed fish of any kind , including when fish with a tattooed heart on them are available around valentine’s day . please note : painted and dyed fish must be distinguished from the glofish – the brightly colored zebra fish , tetras and other fish that are being produced by the industry . glofish are a genetic variation ( albeit with a gene for the colors introduced from a different animal ) , and i have no problem with them at all . in fact , glofish have probably brought more kids into the hobby than we can imagine , and that is a good thing , and i don’t think they are any different from fancy goldfish or guppies , that bear little semblance to the wild fish , but were achieved by the breeders’ art – not women in indonesia injecting fish with dyes .
natural indian glassfish are terrific fish , and they are not at all as difficult to keep as they have the reputation for . painted and dyed fish – be they indian glassfish , black tetras or any other fish – should not be encouraged . i will end by relating something that i saw a couple of years ago when i was wholesaling and delivering fish . i was dropping off the fish order for a good store ( one that has been in business many years , where the owners and staff all really know fish ) . a woman asked the owner if she could have two of the painted glassfish . the owner said of course , but he wanted her to know that the colors would fade in six weeks or so . the woman’s response was “oh , i don’t expect them to live that long ! ”
perhaps this burned my disapproval for painted and dyed fish deeper into my mind – as it is surely not what we want to hear from anyone keeping tropical fish .
keep the natural indian glassfish – and please do not keep the painted or dyed ones . in fact , please tell any store that carries them that you do not approve of this practice .
for this , my inaugural piece for the conscientious aquarist , i have to go back to where it all started . i don’t mean genesis . i don’t mean the ice age . i don’t even mean the frameless aquarium . and what do i mean by
it ?
it ,
is what i believe is the causal effect that should have opened our eyes to the fact that we need to start looking into the role within the hobby we have to take as hobbyists . in this case , i believe , is the appearance / emergence of “painted” glassfish . now i hear you hollering out , “oh , come on glass , ( no pun intended , or maybe there is ) there have been worse problems to deal with before that . what about releasing oscars and piranha into floridian waters ? what about cyaniding philippine coral reefs ? what about this , what about that ? ” they are all legitimate concerns . ( especially the “what about thats” )
what i’m talking about here is when the envelope was pushed way too far . once we started accepting dyed fish into our hobby , we’d done just went too dang far . i can’t help but imagine some seedy fish exporter looking over his bottom line , exclaiming , “we’re just not selling enough glassfish . . . we must sell more glassfish ! ” in an effort to make 3 more cents a day , some cerebral little boy meekly shimmies over to the fishlord and mumbles , “we should paint them , sir . ”
the boy , a little stronger in voice articulates , “we should paint them sir . . . bright colors , then people would buy them” .
the fishlord twirls his feathery beard , and shouts , “everyone , stop what you’re doing ! ” the little boy smiles , sensing a full loaf of bread for dinner tonight .
the fishlord kicks him in the rear , sends him away boisterously glowering , “mind your manners , you little impish slug . how dare you make my idea your own ! now git . you’re fired”
yes , i have a way of letting my imagination run away with me , but you do get a glimpse of the picture here , don’t you ? so let’s talk about the “glassfish” before the world of fluorescence brandished it’s nasty brush on the scaly canvas .
i must admit when i re - entered the hobby , post - childhood around 1986 , my eyes fell upon a tank labeled “painted glassfish” . they were transparent with a spinal stripe , colored either pink , or yellow , or orange , or blue , or purple , or green . wow ! they were pretty neat . i wondered why i never saw them as a kid . i woulda bought a bunch of them . i asked the store employee if they were real . it was a dumb question and i got a dumber answer . “uh , yeah they’re real . all the fish here are real . ”


the kenai peninsula wolf ( canis lupus alces ) , also known as the kenai peninsula grey wolf , was a subspecies of the gray wolf , canis lupus , that lived on a peninsula in southern alaska known as kenai peninsula .

kenai peninsula wolf

image - kenai peninsula wolf . jpg | animal jam clans wiki | fandom powered by wikia
wolves still roam the kenai peninsula today , but classification in 1944 ( edward goldman ) separated the kenai peninsula wolf from these species , and their extinction as announced .
while there is a current wolf population on the peninsula , the lack of genetic similarity to the original species has resulted in a classification of extinction for the original kenai peninsula wolf sub - species .
canis lupus occidentalis a large wolf from western canada , also called the mackenzie valley wolf .
admin - i ' ll add a poll later - 1 i think the kenai peninsula wolf weight is exaggerated , and 2 , the dire wolf weight is underestimated .
x - canis lupus alces the kenai peninsula wolf ; one of the largest of north american wolves ; extinct by 1925 .
the gold rush in the late 1800s brought settlers , and the kenai peninsula wolf was often observed by people in the area . their population started to decrease as settlers hunted the wolf , and pesticides were used to safeguard communities . random sighting occurred up to the 1940s , but it is unknown if these wolves were direct descendants of the kenai peninsula wolf , or crossbred species .
if you have hunted wolves , or plan on hunting wolves , you will be hunting a gray wolf or a subspecies of gray wolf . the most common subspecies of gray wolf to hunt are as follows :
almanac : ready to rumble — kenai was grounds for evel vs . awful , peninsula clarion vs . cheechako news
two species of porpoise are regularly seen in the waters off the kenai peninsula : dall’s porpoises , and harbor porpoises .
that colonized the area , or the descendants of a few of the kenai peninsula wolves that had survived . it has been shown through dna studies that , at minimum , kenai peninsula wolves mated with other alaskan subspecies , as the structure of the current wolf population ' s dna is similar to other mainland alaskan subspecies .
five species of pacific salmon spawn on the kenai peninsula . all are routinely referred to by at least two common names .
anchorage , alaska ( ap ) — kenai peninsula wolves will get at least a year reprieve from state - sanctioned culling .
genetically , wolves of the peninsula were found to be indistinct from those of the mainland , so if there ever was a separate kenai strain of wolf , it’s likely now extinct . yet the kenai peninsula wolves were distinct in one aspect , albeit an ignoble one . they experienced a prevalence of diseases before their mainland counterparts .
kenai peninsula wolf was 45
at the shoulder ? so only a few inches shorter than a male lion ? and 200 lbs ? seems more like a fantasy to me . is there a paper describing a skeleton , or is this anecdotal ? i vote for the dire wolf .
canis lupus crassodon a medium - size , greyish wolf found on vancouver island .
if you hunt in alaska , you will be after one of these two subspecies found all over alaska and into the aleutian islands . these are the largest wolf species that you will hunt . one mackenzie valley wolf weighed 175 pounds . generally these wolves weigh in around 90 - 120 pounds . before it went extinct in 1924 , alaska was home to the largest recorded modern gray wolf subspecies , the kenai peninsula wolf that averaged around 200 pounds .
genetically , wolves of the peninsula were found to be indistinct from those of the mainland , so if there ever was a separate kenai strain of wolf , it ' s likely now extinct . yet the kenai peninsula wolves were distinct in one aspect , albeit an ignoble one . they experienced a prevalence of diseases before their mainland counterparts .
canis lupus griseoalbus a large wolf found in north alberta , saskatchewan , and manitoba .
canis lupus mackenzii the northwest territories wolf ; not recognized as a subspecies until 1943 .
the wolf population of the peninsula at that time was estimated at 186 wolves , with about 71 percent on the western kenai peninsula in what today would be alaska game management unit 15 , and about 29 percent on the eastern peninsula , today’s gmu 7 . about 44 percent were thought to be on refuge land . bailey expects that’s still the case today .
humpback whales are the most commonly sighted and abundant large whales in the waters around the kenai peninsula . watch for them in resurrection bay , in kenai fjords national park , and outside of kachemak bay .
between poisoning , hunting and trapping pressure and disease , the kenai peninsula has not proven a very hospitable home to wolves over the years .
“ ( the kenai peninsula wolves ) were the first alaskan wolves to acquire several dog - related diseases and parasites , ” bailey said .
( the kenai peninsula wolves ) were the first alaskan wolves to acquire several dog - related diseases and parasites ,
bailey said .
the kenai wolf was described and classified by zoologist edward goldman , it was apparently adapted for hunting moose so it ' s large size was beneficial , but when gold miners and settlers came to kenai they wiped out the wolves there . a wolf resurgence didn ' t occur until 1960 , however the new wolves were simply mainland wolves who had reached the peninsula . i think the size was probably exaggerated but they certainly could have been larger than their mainland counterparts , but i still favor the dire wolf due to it being an equally if not more powerfully built wolf .
the wolf population of the peninsula at that time was estimated at 186 wolves , with about 71 percent on the western kenai peninsula in what today would be alaska game management unit 15 , and about 29 percent on the eastern peninsula , today ' s gmu 7 . about 44 percent were thought to be on refuge land . bailey expects that ' s still the case today .
x - canis lupus beothucus the newfoundland wolf , now extinct ; reported almost pure white .
canis lupus columbianus a large wolf found in the yukon , british columbia , and alberta .
canis lupus hudsonicus a light - coloured wolf found in northern manitoba and the northwest territories .
canis lupus irremotus a medium - sized , light - coloured wolf from the rocky mountains .
if you hunt in idaho or montana , you will probably be hunting a subspecies called the rocky mountain wolf , generally a medium to large sized wolf ranging from 70 to 135 pounds .
although commercial fisheries and salmon processing dominated the kenai peninsula economy for much of the 20th century , the beginning of the “fish wars” was just on the horizon . in the early 1900s a newly built railroad set the stage for the first sport fishery on the kenai peninsula . it began with fishermen from seward traveling to kenai lake and cooper landing to fish for large rainbow trout . as word spread about the exceptional size of these fish , sportsmen from the lower 48 and around the world began traveling to seward and lodges on kenai lake and so began trophy fishing and guide services on the kenai peninsula .
x - canis lupus monstrabilis a wolf found in texas and new mexico ; extinct by 1942 .
kenai wildlife may be more special than you think
. peninsula clarion ( 2010 - 07 - 15 ) . retrieved on 2012 - 12 - 31 .
as a companion to marybeth holleman ' s presentation on her new book ,
among wolves : gordon haber ' s insights into alaska ' s most misunderstood animal ,
at kenai peninsula college on april 2 , retired kenai national wildlife refuge biologist ted bailey gave an overview of the history of wolves on the peninsula .
canis lupus arctos the white wolf of the high arctic , found from melville island to ellesmere island .
x - canis lupus fuscus a brownish - colored wolf from the cascade mountains ; extinct by 1940 .
canis lupus ligoni a small , dark - colored wolf from the alexander archipelago in the arctic islands .
x - canis lupus youngi the southern rocky mountain wolf ; extinct by 1935 ; light buff color .
though there are scattered reports of wolf sightings in the area during the 1940s , confirmed re - emergence of wolves on the peninsula didn ' t occur until the 1960s . the largest recorded individual wolf of this breed was nearly 4 . 5 feet ( 1 . 4 m ) tall at the shoulder , the largest wolf ever recorded or sighted . it is unknown whether the new packs of wolves represented other
the species in its hunt for the large moose that roamed the peninsula . they inhabited the kenai peninsula and adjacent areas in alaskait fed largely on moose which is how its scientific name canis lupus alces was derived . it would also feed on other large ungulates
both black and brown ( grizzly ) bears are found on the kenai peninsula . overall , black bears are more abundant , although in some areas and times brown bears predominate .
x - canis lupus mogollonensis a medium - sized wolf found in arizona and new mexico ; extinct by 1935 .
liz jozwiak and ted spraker ( december 3 , 1999 )
wolves on the kenai national wildlife refuge
–u . s . fish and wildlife service , kenai national wildlife refuge
i can ' t find any data about kenai wolf size other than the sizes already given , not even the kenai peninsula website acknowledges this subspecies , they just mention how wolves went extinct in 1915 then returned from the mainland in the 1960 ' s , they never say they used to have the worlds biggest wolves , you ' d think they would be proud of that heritage .
another interesting factoid is the appearance of kenai wolves . about 33 percent of wolves on the kenai were black in peterson’s initial study . over time that decreased 13 percent in 2000 .
instantly recognizable by their natty dark caps and black bibs , chickadees are common on the kenai peninsula . because of their bold dispositions and acrobatic natures , they’re a great species to observe . watch and listen for chickadees year - round , in forested habitats of all types . all kenai peninsula chickadee species give some variation of the familiar
tsikadee , dee , dee
call .
another interesting factoid is the appearance of kenai wolves . about 33 percent of wolves on the kenai were black in peterson ' s initial study . over time that decreased 13 percent in 2000 .
refuge notebook 04 - 30 - 2010 - kenai - u . s . fish and wildlife service
rolf o . peterson , james d . woolington and theodore n . bailey ( 1984 ) .
wolves of the kenai peninsula , alaska
. wildlife monographs 88 : 3–52 . jstor 3830728 .
symbols of the wild north , caribou are a sought - after species for wildlife viewers on the kenai peninsula . these
wandering deer
are native to north america , europe , and asia .
john toppenberg , a board member of the alaska wildlife alliance , said from soldotna that he welcomed the decision and that he continues to disagree with the game board vote to kill kenai peninsula wolves .
bald eagles big , powerful , sharp - eyed and dominating , bald eagles are perhaps the most famous members of the kenai peninsula’s bird world . you may find them year - round , anywhere on the peninsula , from the high alpine to the river valleys , but they are most concentrated along the coast .
in the 1800s and early 1900s , the kenai peninsula’s wolves were exterminated by miners , prospectors , and homesteaders . between 1915 and 1965 , wolves were only occasionally documented in the region . between the late 1960s and mid - 1970s , however , wolf populations increased as the animals moved into suitable habitats , reproduced , and established territories .
at the end of the day , we just aren’t certain about the degree of endemism in kenai populations of marten , red fox , and brown bears , nor in extirpated populations of native caribou and wolf . this area of science is ripe for more exploration including genetic analysis of the many specimens collected before 1920 and archived at museums around the country . ecological understanding always brings a renewed appreciation of wildlife that share the kenai peninsula with us .
the smallest of the kenai peninsula’s common owls , the boreal owl is about the size of a robin . like great gray owls , these white - spotted woodland owls hunt primarily by listening for the subtle sounds of their prey . smaller yet , the northern saw - whet owl is increasing in numbers on the peninsula .
the wolves inhabiting the kenai now are not original stock either . our current population descended from mainland packs that naturally re - colonized the kenai in the 1960s after an absence of perhaps 40 years . long - time trapper andrew berg saw one of the last kenai peninsula wolves ( canis lupus alces ) at the head of bear creek in 1909 , after a decade of persecution including the use of strychnine by miners . scattered reports of wolves indicate that they may have been present though extremely scarce on the kenai through the 1940s .
the kenai peninsula includes thousands of acres of national wildlife refuge and federal managers elsewhere have rejected predator control . the state could have begun killing wolves immediately on state and private land . vincent - lang said the department supports intensive management proposal on the peninsula but wants to increase its body of knowledge needed to inform its decisions .
in the early 1980s , kenai peninsula wolves began to show signs of being infested with dog lice . despite efforts at treatment , the animals continue to struggle with lice , which damage their fur and cause severe itching .
the kenai peninsula’s boreal forests and coastal rainforests , tundra areas and marshes are home to several species of owls . secretive , harder to spot , and less common than eagles , owls offer particularly special wildlife viewing opportunities .
if you hunt in the great lakes states , you will be after a subspecies called a timber wolf . this smallish wolf , generally 50 - 100 pounds , is found in this area and the northeast part of the us . it is often mistaken for a coyote , and landed some hunters in trouble in states that don’t permit wolf hunting . be careful when you predator hunt that you are really killing a coyote !
although native to the kenai peninsula , caribou were absent for about 50 years between the 1910s and 1960s . releases of breeding stock in the 1960s established two herds : one in the mountains near hope and one in the kenai river flats area . in the 1980s , additional caribou were released in the tustumena lake / caribou hills region , eventually establishing three additional herds . they are generally most accessible for viewing in the kenai / soldotna area .
170 - 180lbs was average for dire wolves not 110 . based on what reddhole posted . 2 . the kp wolf genotype has been so diluted that the original wolf is considered extinct . so people might want to think before they say
todays kp wolves weigh x pounds
.
both steller’s jays and gray jays are found on the kenai peninsula . steller’s jays are rich cobalt blue shading to black on their jaunty , crested heads . gray jays have downy - soft gray and white plumage and no crests .
canis rufus : a reclusive animal that weighs between 16 - 40 kg ( 40 - 80 lbs ) , the red wolf is generally a night hunter and travels in groups of two or three . scientists are in disagreement over the origins of the red wolf . some insist it is a genetically distinct species ; some assert that it is a subspecies of grey wolf ; others theorize that it is a hybrid of grey wolves and coyotes .
the department also will conduct baseline population work , he said , to determine the number of peninsula moose and wolves .
huge and imposing , gangly yet oddly graceful , moose are among the quintessential animals of the north country around the globe . moose are abundant on the kenai peninsula , where they’re not restricted to backcountry habitats—they often venture into suburban areas and are even known to stroll city streets . since they’re common , human - tolerant , and active year - round , it would be unusual to spend more than a couple of days wildlife watching on the kenai peninsula without seeing moose .
the board voted to kill wolves in game unit 15a , the area west of cooper landing and north of the sterling highway , and 15c , which covers much of the peninsula south of kasilof and west of kenai fjords national park .
on the peninsula today , the alaska board of game has initiated predator control programs , expanding hunting and trapping opportunities and allowing aerial shooting of wolves in some areas , in an effort to reduce pressure on the moose population . the u . s . fish and wildlife service , meanwhile , does not allow these liberalized wolf - harvest measures on the federally managed kenai national wildlife refuge .
canis lupus manningi the smallest arctic wolf , found on baffin island ; either white or light - coloured ; not recognized as a subspecies until 1943 .
low tide at kenai cannery , 1895 - 1903 . ( alaska state library , kate r . gompertz photograph collection .
they’ve had their ups and downs since the late 1800s , with pressure from humans being one through line in their history . when the gold rush hit the kenai peninsula in 1885 - 86 , the thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich brought a hefty distrust of wolves . apparently they feared a rabies outbreak like they had seen in the klondike , bailey said , so they used poison to reduce the wolf population . poison also was a method of choice for those wanting to harvest fur - bearers to sell the pelts for money during the winter . by 1915 , bailey said , the wolves of the kenai peninsula were gone .
last january , during the dead of winter on the kenai peninsula , i was lucky enough to be goofing off with my family on the yucatan peninsula . every morning we awoke to the calls of great - tailed grackles , ruddy ground doves , chachalacas , and yellow - lored parrots . coatimundis and agoutis shamelessly begged food from hotel guests enroute to their own breakfasts .
they ' ve had their ups and downs since the late 1800s , with pressure from humans being one through line in their history . when the gold rush hit the kenai peninsula in 1885 - 86 , the thousands of prospectors hoping to strike it rich brought a hefty distrust of wolves . apparently they feared a rabies outbreak like they had seen in the klondike , bailey said , so they used poison to reduce the wolf population . poison also was a method of choice for those wanting to harvest fur - bearers to sell the pelts for money during the winter . by 1915 , bailey said , the wolves of the kenai peninsula were gone .
wolves are often seen and heard in most parts of alaska by those willing to spend time in remote areas . the long term future of the wolf in alaska is secure , and alaska will probably continue to deal with the challenges related to the effects of wolf predation on big game populations for a long time .
swans—alaska’s largest flying birds—are often seen here . tundra swans and trumpeter swans are the two species that migrate through ; watch for them at potter’s marsh , tern lake , and the kenai river estuary . some trumpeter swans remain on the peninsula to nest on larger lakes . a few swans winter in the region , and can be seen on the kenai river where water remains unfrozen .
various studies of wolf ecology have shown that the balance between wolf and prey populations can be disrupted . for example , severe winters in combination with wolf and bear predation can drastically reduce a big game population . because many of alaska ' s big game populations and their habitats are less productive than those in lower latitudes and because predators such as wolves and bears are common here , human hunters have to limit their harvest in many areas . in some areas wolf numbers may need to be controlled in order to avoid relatively long periods of prey scarcity which could result in little or no harvest for people and also low numbers of wolves and other furbearers .
as a companion to marybeth holleman’s presentation on her new book , “among wolves : gordon haber’s insights into alaska’s most misunderstood animal , ” at kpc on april 2 , retired kenai national wildlife refuge biologist ted bailey gave an overview of the history of wolves on the peninsula .
yes . wolves were plentiful on the kenai peninsula in the late 1890 ' s . however , the gold rush brought prospectors to the area , and by 1915 wolves were almost completely exterminated by means of predator control programs using poison , along with heavy hunting and trapping .
typically one female wolf in a pack has a litter of about seven pups each year . this varies , in some packs more than one female may bring off a litter .
one of the most important fisheries that helped shape the history of alaska is the cook inlet commercial salmon fishery . the kenai peninsula has seen a tremendous history of canneries and buying stations since well before statehood . since the late 1880s , commercial fishing has been a critical part of alaskan economy and culture . settlers rushed to build fish camps throughout the kenai peninsula because of abundant salmon resources and other finfish found there . salmon packers built canneries at kenai , kasilof , chisik island , homer , and near tyonek . giant fish traps were constructed and dropped into the ocean to harvest salmon by the thousands . for decades , commercial fishing thrived in cook inlet . but that was not to last .
coyotes are also fairly abundant on the kenai peninsula , but their presence here may be a fairly recent event . after the extermination of wolves on the peninsula around the turn of the 20th century , the region’s coyote population began to rise . this expansion was part of a continent wide increase in coyote numbers . today , these human - tolerant canids are particularly abundant at the edges of the human world—a place that wolves avoid .
john morton is the supervisory fish & wildlife biologist at the kenai national wildlife refuge . he is also adjunct faculty at the university of alaska fairbanks . you can check on local birds or report your bird sighting on the kenai national wildlife refuge birding hotline ( 907 ) 262 - 2300 .
of all that is known and still to be learned about wolves on the peninsula and beyond in alaska , one fact remains consistent , bailey said .
in the case of peninsula moose , critics said , the board ignored the main problem — loss of habitat due to 60 years of wildfire suppression .
the rivers and streams of the kenai peninsula collectively produce millions of salmon . salmon are not confined to large waterways ; streams small enough to step across are visited by spawning adults , and some even lay their eggs in the intertidal zones of tiny creeks . these prodigal children of the rivers bring more than eggs to the rivers of the kenai . after spawning , they die , and their decaying bodies enrich the streams and forests with important marine - derived nutrients .
for a wolf to be that large , i think i need a skeleton to believe . the weight is more understandable than the height . that is just silly . is epicyon even that tall ?
wolves are not commonly seen on the kenai peninsula , although they are fairly abundant ( their population is estimated at around 200 ) . they travel the backcountry in packs of seven to twelve , preying on moose , caribou , dall sheep and mountain goats . they also hunt marmots , beavers and other small mammals .
at 18 - 25
long and weighing up to 4 pounds , great horned owls are the kenai peninsula’s most powerful owls . they are the only large alaskan owls with prominent ear tufts . great horned owls hunt primarily by sight . their populations fluctuate with the populations of their primary prey animals ( snowshoe hares ) .
few places offer as much to nesting and migrating waterfowl as the kenai peninsula does . the western flatlands are pockmarked with thousands of lakes , ponds and wetlands , wild and inaccessible , that offer solitude and outstanding nesting habitat . mountain lakes in the central and eastern part of the peninsula provide additional breeding territory . huge estuaries provide crucial calories for migration . during summer , a visit to any lake or pond is a chance to watch nesting waterfowl , and in spring and fall you can watch the migration spectacle at marshes and estuaries . in winter , many waterfowl species can be seen along the saltwater shores and open waters of the kenai river .
fish don’t draw just bears . when salmon are running , some of the kenai peninsula wildlife viewing trail sites are occupied by hundreds of anglers . wildlife viewers may find those sites busier than preferred during the short fishing season ( dates vary by run and location ) , but tranquil and great for viewing most of the year .
commercial fishermen and personal use dipnetters enjoy fishing the peak of the kenai river sockeye salmon run , 2007 . photo courtesy of pat shields , adf & g soldotna .
for kenai peninsula wildlife watchers , gulls seem to be everywhere . often gathered in large , raucous congregations , they are frequently dismissed as
just seagulls .
gulls are among the most challenging of birds to identify , but because of their abundance they offer lots of opportunities to practice—and their visibility makes them great subjects for extended viewing .
, or red salmon are named for their blood - red spawning coloration and red flesh . averaging six to eight pounds , they are associated with lake systems . the russian river supports perhaps the most famous of the kenai peninsula’s sockeye runs—where bright red fish leap waterfalls and dodge milling anglers , who can sometimes seem as abundant as the salmon
that roamed the peninsula . it is widely accepted as the largest known species of canid . the species was classified in 1944 as one of the four subspecies in alaska by
canis lupus lycaon the eastern timber wolf of canada and the united states ; it originally had the largest range of all of north american subspecies ; the first subspecies to be recognized in north america ( 1775 ) .
if you do want to hunt a wolf , the best place to start is alaska . the license and tag will cost you $ 115 . 00 . although you will have to have transport to alaska , and transport to where you can hunt , this is still a fairly cheap hunt and won’t require any draw worries . if you are seeking the ultimate north american predator to add to your collection , don’t forget about the wolf .
fairly common along the shores and rivers of the kenai peninsula , the river otter is the same playful aquatic weasel found throughout north america . river otters live in freshwater systems and in coastal waters , denning just inside forest edges and foraging on beaches and close to shore . they average three to five feet in length and weigh 15 to 35 pounds .
at the turn of the last century , the andrew j . stone expedition was organized to collect mammals and birds in arctic and subarctic alaska for the american museum of natural history . professor stone and his colleagues amassed 873 specimens of 28 mammal species during their forays to alaska that included staging out of homer to explore the kenai peninsula in 1901 and 1902 .
the refuge continued peterson’s study from 1982 to 1993 , capturing , radio collaring and monitoring 107 wolves on the peninsula . in that time human harvest averaged 61 percent in the early 1980s and declined to 14 percent in the late 1980s and early 1990s . however , wolf density did not increase with that decline in harvest , so it is thought that disease and the decreasing moose population were factors in the wolves’ decline .
in contrast to kenai wolves and foxes that were considered bigger than those found elsewhere in alaska , american marten from the kenai were smaller and darker than individuals from populations elsewhere in north america and are classified as a subspecies : martes americana kenaiensis . here again , the science is based on only six specimens collected in the early 1900s , and contemporary taxonomists have suggested that subspecific designation is unwarranted . ironically , daniel elliot , who proposed that kenai marten be recognized as a subspecies also questioned the subspecific designation of stone’s caribou as long ago as 1905 .
type for canis lupus alces goldman , 1941 catalog number : usnm 147471 collection : smithsonian institution , national museum of natural history , department of vertebrate zoology , division of mammals sex / stage : female ; adult preparation : skull collector ( s ) : c . lambert year collected : 1904 locality : kachemak bay , kenai peninsula borough , alaska , united states , north america
warblers and thrushes spend time birdwatching on the kenai peninsula in summer and you’ll notice warblers . only a little bigger than hummingbirds , these tiny birds dart like insects among the leaves , or perch to shout their surprisingly loud songs to the world . many seem designed specifically to blend with the willow , birch and alder leaves , sporting olive - green or bright yellow feathers .
the refuge continued peterson ' s study from 1982 to 1993 , capturing , radio collaring and monitoring 107 wolves on the peninsula . in that time human harvest averaged 61 percent in the early 1980s and declined to 14 percent in the late 1980s and early 1990s . however , wolf density did not increase with that decline in harvest , so it is thought that disease and the decreasing moose population were factors in the wolves ' decline .
the social order in the pack is characterized by a separate dominance hierarchy among females and males . in most areas wolf packs tend to remain within a territory used almost exclusively by pack members , with only occasional overlap in the ranges of neighboring packs .
similarly , wilfred osgood , during his biological survey of the cook inlet in 1900 , reported that kenai foxes ( vulpes vulpes kenaiensis ) were the largest fox known in north america . confirmation of this possible endemic subspecies was muddied by the establishment of commercial fox farms on the kenai between wwi and the early 1930s . these propagation efforts involved capturing denning foxes and sometimes cross breeding them with captive stock .
the expedition collected specimens of a presumably endemic woodland caribou , rangifer tarandus stonei , with a narrow and long head , and slender antlers with “unusual development of the brow antler and the anterior branch” ( see photo ) . the last stone’s caribou was killed on the kenai sometime around 1912 - 23 . the caribou that currently inhabit the kenai are descendants of individuals introduced by state and federal agencies in the 1960s and 1980s from the nelchina herd .
ptarmigan are close relatives of grouse , but where spruce grouse are forest specialists , ptarmigan prefer the open country of alpine tundra . there are three species of ptarmigan on the kenai peninsula : willow ptarmigan ( alaska’s state bird ) , rock ptarmigan , and white - tailed ptarmigan . in areas where all three species overlap , the birds segregate themselves by elevation , with the willows the lowest , followed by the rocks , and finally the white - tails .
when wolves re - established themselves on the peninsula they did so with protection from the state , with no hunting or trapping seasons . a hunting season for wolves was instituted in 1974 , with a trapping season added the following year .
alaska averages about 500 moose - vehicle accidents per year , with many of those on the kenai peninsula . analysis of collision data shows that most vehicle - moose accidents occur at dawn and dusk when moose are on the move . drivers should slow down and pay close attention to the road and roadside , being alert for moose . if you spot a moose on the side of the road , watch out for more . calves will often run after cows across roads .
arabian peninsula : subspecies : pallipes , arabs . status : in decline , < 300 individuals . range occupied : 90 % . main prey : garbage , carrion , livestock . legal status : no protection . cause of decline : persecution .
the wolf is the primeval wild dog , the largest wild canid , long a hunter alongside people , and ancestor of our most faithful domestic companion . wolves vary widely in appearance . their fur is thick and usually grey , but can vary from nearly pure white , red , or brown to black .
the first study of wolves on the peninsula was conducted from 1976 to 1983 for the u . s . fish and wildlife service on the kenai national moose range ( later renamed the kenai national wildlife refuge ) by rolf peterson , particularly noted for his study of the wolves of isle royale national park in michigan . three to seven packs were monitored in that time , and the study found an average pack size of 11 . 2 ( from two to 20 ) , an average pack territory of 246 square miles ( from 68 to 601 square miles ) , a density of 18 . 2 wolves per 1 , 000 square kilometers , and an average human - caused mortality ( hunting and trapping ) of about 33 percent .
alaska is home to an estimated 7 , 000 to 11 , 000 wolves . wolves have never been threatened or endangered in alaska . the food habits of the wolf often bring it into conflict with humans who in many parts of the world are also hunters of big game animals . although the wolf has coexisted with big game animals for thousands of years , under some conditions the impact of predation contributes to local scarcities of game which arouse some people ' s concern . in most non - coastal systems with moose and caribou , wolves and bears together maintain game populations below levels at which their food supply would be damaged .
red squirrels wherever you find spruce trees on the kenai peninsula , you’ll find red squirrels . the small , oil - rich seeds of the spruce provide a critical food for these hardy arboreal rodents , especially in winter , when other foods such as berries and fungus are scarce . in fact , red squirrels spend most of the late summer and early fall cutting green spruce cones for winter , and stashing them in semi - subterranean caches that are sometimes made up of piles of previous - years’ discarded cone scales .
alaskan moose are the largest moose in north america , and kenai peninsula moose are known as some of the largest in alaska . prime - condition bulls can weigh over 1 , 500 pounds and stand over seven feet tall at the shoulders . cows are smaller , weighing 800 - 1300 pounds . only the males have antlers , but both sexes have dangling
dewlaps
of skin under their chins . the long , brown and gray hairs that make up their coats are hollow , giving them insulation and buoyancy .
steller sea lions are among coastal alaska’s most watchable marine mammals . they are vocal , social , and fairly common around the kenai peninsula . sea lions are fast swimmers and are graceful and powerful in the water . because they can rotate their rear flippers forward to use as
hind legs ,
they are fairly agile on land . they
haul out
in large , noisy groups at traditionally used rock outcrops and beaches . they also haul out on buoys , where they may be seen bellowing and jockeying for the best spots .
the same challenges to the survival of a pack from hunting , trapping and other human predator - control methods exist on the peninsula as dr . gordon haber , the subject of holleman’s book , found in denali wolves , in that taking an alpha wolf has a disproportionately large impact than the death of a less - vital pack member . worldwide study has shown that when an alpha breeder is lost , pups survive 90 percent of the time in packs of more than six wolves , 56 percent of the time if only one alpha is lost and only 9 percent of the time if both alphas are lost , bailey said .
now that wolves are making a comeback and hunting them is not just a dream , how many species of wolves can you hunt ? north america has two species of wolves , the gray and the red . gray wolves are the most numerous and occupy the most of north america . the red wolf is rarer and occupies the southeastern united states .
the same challenges to the survival of a pack from hunting , trapping and other human predator - control methods exist on the peninsula as dr . gordon haber , the subject of holleman ' s book , found in denali wolves , in that taking an alpha wolf has a disproportionately large impact than the death of a less - vital pack member . worldwide study has shown that when an alpha breeder is lost , pups survive 90 percent of the time in packs of more than six wolves , 56 percent of the time if only one alpha is lost and only 9 percent of the time if both alphas are lost , bailey said .
• three common gulls are large ( raven - sized ) birds , about 24 inches long , with pink legs and yellow bills with red dots . glaucous - winged gulls have gray wing tips . herring gulls and thayer’s gulls both have jet - black wingtips and are difficult to tell apart . look into their eyes , if you can . usually , herring gulls have pale irises and thayer’s have dark irises . some gulls are hybrids of two species . on the kenai peninsula this is common ; virtually all of the gulls nesting at skilak lake are hybrids .
“the roles were kind of switched compared to today , ” bailey said . “back then it was the federal government that was poisoning wolves , and the state of alaska , at statehood , they changed the outlook on wolves . they made the wolf a big game species and they protected it and developed seasons . today it is kind of the opposite . ”
for the birds , the region’s estuaries and wetlands mean plenty of food : energy to carry them across hundreds or thousands of miles of inhospitable territory . for humans , this means outstanding birdwatching , including the chance to see not just lots of birds but unusual birds—stray migrants from asia , for example . if you’re planning a visit to the kenai peninsula during shorebird migration , check ahead for birding tours and other events designed to help people learn about and appreciate this phenomenon . for example , homer hosts an annual kachemak bay shorebird festival , featuring tours , presentations , and artwork .
the roles were kind of switched compared to today ,
bailey said .
back then it was the federal government that was poisoning wolves , and the state of alaska , at statehood , they changed the outlook on wolves . they made the wolf a big game species and they protected it and developed seasons . today it is kind of the opposite .
my family stayed in three rooms at kenai peninsula . each was clean , well furnished and had a great view from a sea cliff site , but very different thanks to the inspiration of the owner / architect / builder . one was mostly underground on the side of an embankment facing the sea . the second above the office with a deck and third , a more economical unit , was more conventional . check out their web site for pictures of all units . this property deserves all of the 5 ratings it has accumulated . it is very well managed with owner living next door .
or king salmon are the largest salmon . kings average between 20 and 40 pounds , but larger fish are not at all uncommon . the state record sport - caught chinook was caught in the kenai river . it weighed 97 pounds . a chinook caught commercially in southeast alaska weighed 126 pounds .
iconic birds of the boreal forest , spruce grouse are common on the kenai peninsula . they feed on a variety of berries , leaves , flowers and insects in summer , but their winter diet consists almost entirely of spruce needles . to collect the small gravel pieces that help them grind and digest this tough forage , they begin frequenting roadsides , streambanks , and lakeshores in august—so watch for them at dawn and dusk . they’re well - camouflaged , so you’ll have to look and listen carefully to spot them . scan for broods of chicks following the female . sometimes the male tags along as well .
birdwatchers on the kenai will also find thrushes : the familiar , ubiquitous american robin ; the similarly - sized ( but more gaudily - colored ) varied thrush of the coastal rainforests ; swainson’s thrush ; gray - cheeked thrush ; and the small , shy hermit thrush with its lovely eerie song around seward .
three species of loons nest on the peninsula’s many lakes : common loons , pacific loons , and red - throated loons . these large birds build mounded nests of shoreline debris just adjacent to the water ( loons are master divers , but can not walk on land ) . loon chicks can sometimes be seen riding on their parents’ backs .
aquatic invertebrates the rivers , streams , lakes and ponds of the kenai peninsula are full of bugs…and that’s a good thing . aquatic insects form the basis for countless wildlife food chains . they’re the primary food of juvenile salmon and other small fish , which are in turn eaten by larger fish , birds , and mammals . no bugs… no bears ! many insects that you’ll find in streams and ponds are juvenile forms of bugs that spend their adult time zooming through the air . others spend their whole lives underwater . some are extremely tolerant of pollution and other poor conditions , while others are so sensitive that their presence is used as an indicator of good water quality .
there are three species of chickadee known to breed on the peninsula . blackcapped chickadees , the familiar chickadees of the
lower 48
can be seen in deciduous forests throughout the region . boreal chickadees , with their brown caps and rusty flanks , are more common in dry forests of white spruce . chestnut - backed chickadees are common in the coastal rainforest .
no matter what you choose to hunt , the wolf has a long and infamous history , making it a prime trophy for the predator hunter . since it has long come into conflict with ranchers and competed for game with humans , it hasn’t always been popular . nearly being wiped out in the lower 48 states , it has recovered enough to be hunted in six of these states . alaska has always had a large enough population for hunting and trapping .
inseason management of the kenai river dipnet fishery is also the responsibility of the division of sport fish . the fishery opens and closes by regulation , and inseason management is required if it is projected that the inriver escapement goal ( as assessed by the sonar at river mile 19 ) for sockeye salmon will not be met or if the escapement goals are exceeded .
the board of game , a seven - member panel appointed by the governor that sets game seasons and bag limits , voted to extend predator control to two game units on the peninsula , continuing an aggressive approach to killing wolves , black bears and grizzly bears to boost moose and caribou numbers through liberal predator hunting and trapping seasons or professional culling , which usually means shooting them from the air .
in general , coyotes are small - game specialists , feeding on hares , marmots , small rodents , muskrats , and even insects , berries and fish , although they do occasionally kill a large mammal such as a moose calf or a dall sheep . they also scavenge carrion from wolf kills or winter - killed animals . coyotes are not social to the extent that wolves are , although they do sometimes hunt cooperatively , and family groups stay together through the summer . youngof previous years will occasionally help care for pups .
despite a generally high birth rate , wolves rarely become abundant because mortality is also high . in much of alaska , the major sources of mortality are : predation by other wolves ; hunting ; and trapping . diseases , malnutrition , and accidents also help regulate wolf numbers . predation by other wolves is a major cause of death because wolves defend their territories from other wolves . dispersing wolves ( e . g . , young adults ) are common but they typically find little suitable habitat that is not already occupied by other wolves .
harbor seals feed on fish , clams , mussels , and crustaceans such as shrimp . they are hunted and preyed upon by sharks and by transient killer whales . in may and june they tend to move to sheltered waterways such as the deep bays of kenai fjords national park , where each female gives birth to a single pup , often on an iceberg . harbor seals favor nearshore water and will also swim up rivers .
the wolf occurs throughout mainland alaska , on unimak island in the aleutians , and on all of the major islands in southeast except admiralty , baranof , and chichagof . this range includes about 85 percent of alaska ' s 586 , 000 square - mile area . wolves are adaptable and exist in a wide variety of habitats extending from the rain forests of the southeast panhandle to the arctic tundra along the beaufort sea . alaska is home to an estimated 7 , 000 to 11 , 000 wolves . wolves have never been threatened or endangered in alaska . they are found in nearly all of their historic range , excepting the center of urban areas , although they are found on the outskirts of anchorage , fairbanks and juneau . wolves are common over much of the state . the highest densities occur in southeast alaska , where sitka black - tailed deer serve as the major food source for wolves . wolf densities are lowest in the coastal portions of western and northern alaska . although the distribution of wolves has remained relatively constant in recent times , their abundance is influenced by harvest levels , diseases , and prey availability
southcentral alaska is a critical point in the migration routes of many species of shorebirds , whose annual journeys from southern wintering grounds to northern nesting areas can span thousands of miles . sandpipers , dunlin , godwits , whimbrels , curlews , plovers… the list of species can’t convey the enormity of the spectacle at the height of spring migration , when the mudflats and beaches of the kenai river estuary , turnagain arm , kachemak bay , and other coastal hotspots are blanketed with thousands upon thousands of fluttering wings , darting legs , and bobbing heads .
the salmon - rich waters of cook inlet in southcentral alaska have given rise to several unique fisheries over the past century . the kenai river boasts some of the most active fisheries in the state . thousands of recreational fishers flock to the crowded banks every year with their rods , reels , and dip nets , ready to take home their limit of salmon . alaska ' s recreational fisheries are a relatively new concept ( the majority of the state’s historical fisheries being largely commercial ) but have grown to become an integral part of the state’s income and fisheries management .