Snakehead Fact or Fiction

Snakeheads can move over land moderate distances in moist enviroments, they cannot however survive for days out of water.
Google, just one of many articles/reports, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2004/2/snakehead.cfm

I think the information that they can was fanned by the media hype when the florida infestation was being reported. Maybe they can go for hours but I really doubt days. They can move/wriggle fast out of water though. I had one once that crossed the street (just 2 lanes actually) from my garage to the house in front in a span of less than 10 secs. :duh:

actually i'd heard the days rumor as well, but it was supoported with descriptions of how the things were imported. apparently fish stores (food fish stores) went to great lengths to sell them live, and they would be shipped in containers with no water in them in order to cram in more of them per container. If I can dig up the old article I'll post a link.

EDIT:: here's a link to a long article about snakeheads. the last piece describes a shipment of 80 individuals without water. enjoy USGS snakehead article

here's one from the smithsonian saying they can breate air for up to 3 days smithsonian snakehead article

one qualifier I saw was that it needs to be kept moist like any fish.. if it were to sit out in the sun all day it would dry out and die of dehydration.

The same is true of many anabantoids and Polypteridae.