Lampreys (parasites)

[calming-creations]

Hey Jim:

I was just catching up on some note taking during my early morning install. I was wondering if all Lampreys, or parasites, as they are referred to in Week 2 reading are harmful to fish.

Or are there a few that are beneficial to fish? Can you give some examples?
Thanks.

Joe

 

[Anonymous]

Hmmm...well I'm hardly familiar with every species of Lamprey, and I've certainly never kept any in the aquarium!
The little I know about these fish, they are primitive, most are parasites or feed on fish and are indeed harmful to them. They rasp holes in the host-fish's skin and suck it's blood. Aside from the fact that fish can and do feed on them as well, I can't think how they would be beneficial to any fish. Except, perhaps helping cull weaker individuals and thereby strengthening the gene pool of the host fish species, such as Salmon for instance.

That last part is purely conjecture.

Here's a bit of reading on them I found.