Football-Sized Goldfish Surfaces In PA

PRESQUE ISLE, PA — Your pet store goldfish after two years in the wild: "Call me Megalodon."

Those were the words of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as it shared a photo of an enormous goldfish on social media last week found in Presque Isle, near Erie, to publicize what can happen if you release a small, aquarium-sized goldfish into a stream or lake.

"Goldfish grow massive in the wild, where they can turn lakes and waterways into murky messes, steal food from native fish, and wreck water quality," an agency Facebook post stated. "If you can’t keep your fish, re-home it. Just don’t let it loose."

The federal agency warns on its website that without a tank limiting their size, goldfish that once fit in the palm of your hand can balloon into giant, football-sized invaders that compete with native species for food and habitat. They can grow to four pounds.

The wildlife service notes that goldfish are bottom feeders, stirring up sediment, uprooting plants, and make the water murky. They also spawn several times a season and because they have no natural predators in North American waters, their populations can rapidly increase.

Goldfish also can carry parasites and diseases that native fish have no immunity to, the wildlife service warns.

Instead of releasing it, the wildlife service recommends:

• Re-home it: Visit Don't Let it Loose for re-homing resources in your state. Also, schools, nursing homes, and community centers often have aquariums and may be able to take your fish.
• Return it to a pet store: Some pet stores and retailers accept unwanted fish.
• Contact local aquarium or rescue groups: Reach out to social media groups dedicated to aquariums and fish hobbyists.