Goldfish Make A Splash In Makeshift Puddle On Bed-Stuy Street

BED-STUY — A school of goldfish has set up camp in a Brooklyn sidewalk puddle, courtesy of a leaky fire hydrant and a local resident.

The makeshift pond went viral earlier this week, prompting a resident to conduct a late-night "fish heist" to rescue some goldfish from the school of dozens.

The goldfish were discovered at the intersection of Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street, swimming in a puddle created by a leaking hydrant, according to Curbed, who initially reported on the makeshift pond.

The pond was established by Bed-Stuy resident Je-Quan Irving, who told Curbed that he was taking care of the fish. He told the outlet that he had been in contact with the city and that the fish were being fed three times a day.

On Thursday, a Department of Environmental Protection crew visited the pond and turned off the fire hydrant, reports said.

"It’s imperative that our DEP operations team be allowed to fix the hydrant," said Beth DeFalco, DEP Deputy Commissioner for Public Affairs and Communications. "There are real safety concerns with damaged or leaking hydrants; it can impact the availability of water for fire emergencies, and it can impact water pressure and cause supply issues for the neighborhood."

According to an NBC report, Irving ultimately unsealed the valve to return the flow of water in order to keep the goldfish alive. He told the news channel that his plan is to remove them once the weather gets colder and give them to kids in the community.

"We love goldfish also, but we know there is a better home for them than on a sidewalk," DeFalco added.