Ripple: Reduce Invasive Pet and PLant Escapes

Another handy tip from our friend Jake the Nature Nerd about aquatic plants in aquariums!

The most important fish keeping secret you should know about… live aquarium plants! Adding live plants to your fish tanks will help oxygenate the water, remove compounds that are harmful to your fish and provide natural hiding places. The only problem with live plants arises when they need to be thinned out. Without proper disposal, aquarium plants that may be home to aquatic hitchhikers can thrive in the wild and become invasive. Therefore, it is important that we dispose of aquarium plants properly by rehoming them to other hobbyists OR sealing them up in a plastic bag & tossing them into the trash. Do your part in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive plant species and ensure proper disposal practices when it comes time to thin out your aquarium plants from your at-home fish tanks! For more information, please visit RIPPLE @ Canr.msu.edu/Ripple. #fishkeeping #invasivespecies #aquarium #fish #aquaticplants

The state is proposing to add six plants to its prohibited and restricted species list, including two aquatic plants.

Michigan may soon ban sales of this stinky tree and 5 other plants - Bridge Michigan The state’s agricultural department wants to add to the list of plants that are not allowed to be sold or imported in Michigan.

Thinking about gifting an aquarium this holiday season? Aquariums can be a wonderful way to bring nature indoors, but they also come with responsibilities that protect our environment. Learn tips for selecting the right species, avoiding invasive plants and animals, and creating a healthy habitat for your fish.

Are you gifting an aquarium for the holidays? Make sure to keep nature and your new hobby separate Prevent aquarium animals and plants from invading our waterways by following simple steps.

🦞✨ Meet the marvel of the crayfish world: the Marbled Crayfish—nature’s self-cloning crustacean! That’s right, these crayfish are always female and reproduce without a mate. 🔍 ID tips: ✅ Look for a round, pocket-like feature between the last pair of walking legs. That’s the annulus ventralis—a s***m pouch that confirms its female. ✅ The marbled color pattern is most visible on the back and its claws are slender. Note: this species looks very similar to our native calico crayfish and white river crayfish. 📍 If you think you've spotted one in Michigan - report it at www.misin.msu.edu. Remember never release aquarium pets into the wild!

🦞 Red Swamp Crayfish are colorful, clawed, and invasive! 🔍 Visual ID can be hard but look for...
✅ Claws: Sabre-shaped with bumpy texture
✅ Colors: Red, white, purple, and even blue (wild ones are usually bright red but our aquarium friends are much more stylish!)
✅ Back: “Closed areola” on its back
👉 Check out our invasive crayfish almanac to learn more ID tips bit.ly/crayfishalmanac
📍 If spotted, report at www.misin.msu.edu
🚫 Never release aquarium pets into the wild!

Excited to be partnering with Jake the Nature Nerd to raise awareness of invasive species. Tip #1: Don't let your pet goldfish go.

Goldfish are one of the most common beginner fish species in the fish-keeping hobby. Who hasn’t had a goldfish in an aquarium? Maybe a little glass bowl after a trip to the county fair? But what happens when you’re no longer interested in your pet goldfish—or don’t have the means to care for it properly? Many well-meaning animal lovers believe the best thing to do is set them free in a local body of water. However, goldfish are actually an invasive species in North America. They can destroy established aquatic ecosystems, introduce disease, and even bully native fish species. Please, do not release your pet goldfish into the wild! Instead, find a local fish store or do your best to rehome your fish. Whatever you do… DO NOT RELEASE! I’m proud to partner with RIPPLE at Michigan State University Extension to raise awareness about the risks of releasing goldfish into the wild. Together, we can help protect our waters and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species. #goldfish #fishkeeping #aquarium #invasivespecies #nature #MSU #MichiganState