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apidly ~igested by predators. No comprehensive study of predation on larval <br />Colorado squawfish has been published, but work in progress in the Green River <br />will address this problem (i.e. Flaming Gorge Studies, a cooperative project <br />between BR and FWS). <br />Post larvae- Colorado squawfish attain a length of 40-50 mm in the first <br />year of growth. It is assumed that at about this size, the fish becomes more <br />predaceous, eating more smaller fish. It is also possible that the fish could <br />experience better growth in backwater habitats that are full of small <br />introduced minnows. But until this size is reached, lab studies indicate that <br />the postlarvae may be at a disadvantage with many of the small, introduced <br />species, and may be prey for some of the larger fishes that can still enter <br />backwaters (Karp and Tyus (1989)). <br />Juveniles- Little is known about the life of juvenile Colorado squawfish. <br />These fish are large enough to freely navigate the main river channels, and <br />presumably do so. There are possible advantages and disadvantages to this <br />fish from introduced farms; the squawfish eating smaller forms and being eaten <br />by larger ones until growth to an adult size occurs. <br />Adults- There are some indications (D. S. Schultz, personal communication) <br />that growth of adult fish may be better now than under historic conditions. <br />This is presumably due to a larger. prey base. However, same prey may be <br />lethal, as indicated by the choking of ,. large Colorado squawfish on smaller <br />channel catfish (McAda 1984, Pimental et al. 1985, Vanicek 1967). Some of the <br />largest fish introduced, including northern pike, and walleye, are potential <br />33 <br />