Corey Ketchum of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service holds a goldfish found during an electrofishing survey in Lake Erie off Presque Isle. (Photo: Matt Basista/USFWS)
After discovering a larger than normal goldfish off Presque Isle, officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are warning goldfish owners against releasing the pet fish into the wild.
Members of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) were conducting an electrofishing survey in the waters of Lake Erie off Presque Isle State Park last week when they encountered a massive pet goldfish that someone had apparently released into the waterway, creating what they labeled an invasive problem.
In a playful yet pointed post to the USFWS Facebook page, the agency jokingly referred to the wayward goldfish as “megalodon” (an extinct species of giant shark) while warning of the problems created with releasing pet goldfish into the wild.
“This goldfish isn’t supposed to be here. But someone released it, thinking they were being kind,” they wrote. “Instead, they created an invasive problem that can last decades.”
The problems, the agency explained, stem from goldfish gaining in size. By stealing food from native fish, goldfish can grow up to four pounds and about 16 inches. The larger than normal goldfish can turn lakes and waterways into murky messes by stirring up sediment and uprooting plants, making it harder for native fish and plants to survive. Goldfish can also breed quickly and carry parasites and diseases that native fish have no immunity to, creating a ripple effect of harm throughout an ecosystem.
“If you can’t keep your fish, rehome it. Just don’t let it loose,” the USFWS wrote, and offered these re-homing suggestions:
- Help your fish find a home with someone who will care for them. The organization Don’t Let it Loose has re-homing resources in Pennsylvania. Also, schools, nursing homes, and community centers often have aquariums and may be able to take your fish.
- Some pet stores and retailers will accept unwanted fish.
- Reach out to social media groups dedicated to aquariums and fish hobbyists. Many are willing to help people re-home pet fish.
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