Exotic pest fish species	Based on the growth and reproductive characteristics of the species, what is the likelihood of it displacing local native species?	What is the likelihood of the species becoming a significant predator or exhibiting aggressive behaviour toward native species?	What is the likelihood of the species altering the physical environment in potential receiving waters?	What is the likelihood of the species destabilising plant communities in the receiving waters?	What is the likelihood of this species hybridising?	What is the likelihood of the species utilising degraded habitats?	What is the species withstanding a broad range of environmental conditions?
Red devil	medium	high—aggressive behaviour	low	low	high—with other cichlids	not known (rarely occupies rivers)	low
Oscar	medium	high—aggressive behaviour and piscivory (small fish)	low	low	high—with other cichlids	low	low
Three-spot cichlid	medium	high—carnivorous	low	high	high—with other cichlids	low	low
Victoria Burton’s haplochromine	medium	medium— herbivorous but aggressive	low	low	high—with other cichlids	medium	low
Tilapia / Mozambique mouth-brooder	high	medium— aggressive	medium	low	high—with other Oreochromis species	high	high—broad environmental tolerances
Niger cichlid (Tilapia mariae)	high	high—very aggressive	medium	low	high—with other Tilapia species	high	high—very broad environmental tolerances
Goldfish (Carassius auratus)	high	low	high	low	high—with carp	high	high—very broad environmental tolerances
Carp (Cyprinus carpio)	high	low	high	high	high—with goldfish and other carp species	high	high—very broad environmental tolerances
Gambusia	high	very high—aggressive and known to eat eggs and fry of other fish	low	low	high—with other species of gambusia (none present in Australia)	high	high—broad environmental tolerances
Sailfin molly	minimal	low	low	low	uncertain	high	can withstand salt water
Guppy	minimal	high—consumes fish fry	low	low	uncertain	high	low
Swordtail	minimal	high—consumes fish fry	low	low	can hybridise with platies	medium	low
Platy	minimal	high—consumes fish fry	low	low	can hybridise with swordtails	medium	low
Oriental weatherloach	medium	low	low	low	low	high	high—accessory breathing apparatus and can move overland to colonise new waterbodies
Brown trout	high	high	low	low	low	low	low
Blue-spot gourami	minimal	low	low	low	low	high	high

back to home page | next page: Legislation about noxious and non-indigenous fish