Stop Throwing Pet Goldfish In Lakes, Officials Warn As They ‘Grow Bigger’ Than People Realize

Jul 15, 2021 by apost team

Getting a pet is a big responsibility and can be a big step for plenty of people, whether they are adults or children. While it’s common for children to want a tiny companion to play with, it’s important for them to understand the level of responsibility that comes with it.

This could play a factor in why so many parents gift their children with goldfish as a pet, as fish are easy to take care of and don’t require much attention. Generally, all they need is a big enough tank to swim in and some food to get them through the day. These pets are typically kept in home fish tanks and have actually become one of the most popular aquarium fish.

However, sometimes people get bored with these fish or just no longer want to have a pet and they find a way to get rid of them. This has sadly resulted in the goldfish being disposed of and dumped into natural bodies of water. This has become an issue for North America, as goldfish are now an invasive pest to these waterways, and the fish have begun growing and accumulating at a rapid rate.

The city of Burnsville, Minnesota, has encouraged its residents to give their pet goldfish away rather than throwing them in a waterway. Since they adjust to their environment, the goldfish are able to grow to be surprisingly large. This non-native species has begun getting dumped into various ponds, lakes and other bodies of water, and has potentially caused economic and environmental harm.

In July 2021, USA TODAY reported that large groups of goldfish were found in Keller Lake, and the city of Burnsville has suspected that residents could be the cause. The city urged its residents to not do this, and tweeted, “Please don’t release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes! They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants.”

Continuing its work to spread awareness about not releasing your pet goldfish, the city also posted a note on Facebook. “Instead of releasing your pet goldfish in a local lake or pond, please consider other options for finding them a new home like asking a responsible friend or neighbor to care for it,” the post said.

Daryl Jacobson works as the natural resources manager for Burnsville and told USA TODAY that the city expected to find goldfish in Keller Lake, “but were surprised how big they were.” He explained that the fish tend to match the size of their environment, which is why they are so small in home tanks but can grow to be so large in natural waterways. 

USA TODAY reported that goldfish reintroduced to the environment are considered an invasive species since they are not native to the area they are being deposited in and can cause economic and environmental harm. “You may think it’s a humane thing to do, but these fish are not meant to be in our natural system in large numbers,” Jacobson added, as he continued to urge residents to find another way to get rid of their pet fish.

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Have you ever had a pet goldfish? Did you know they could grow to such a large size? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to all the animal lovers in your life!