Why You Shouldn’t Throw Your Family Goldfish Into the Pond
If you own a standard goldfish and wake up one morning and decide that owning a pet is not for you, you may be forced to release your aquatic friend into the wild in a local pond so he can live out his golden years in his home. natural habitat. I am here to inform you that you absolutely should not do this.
According to a study by a team of researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland, releasing domesticated goldfish into local ponds or lakes can cause great damage to these ecosystems. Regarding the effect of goldfish on other pond inhabitants, researcher James Dickey told Treehugger : “Our study showed an insatiable appetite for live insect larvae, but they actually have a very wide diet and will eat other fish, fish eggs, amphibians and aquatic plants. Their very presence has also been shown to influence the breeding behavior of newts.” He goes on to explain that their diet affects the clarity of the water, which in turn affects the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants and also causes algae blooms.
So what to do if you have a goldfish that has become obsolete? You have several options. Assuming you’ve already offered your pet to some family or friends who have expressed an interest in aquarium maintenance or aquatic animals but haven’t been able to find any, look for local aquarist groups or animal shelters that could take your goldfish. Alternatively, you can visit the website of Don’t Let it Loose , a group dedicated to promoting responsible pet ownership, to find out what relocation options are available in your state. In addition, many communities have local fish lifeguards.
If all else fails, you can always try to go to the shop where you bought the fish and explain to them why you can no longer take care of it, but there is no guarantee that they will take it out of your hands. And to potential goldfish owners: find out what you’re getting yourself into before you bring home a goldfish. This is more work than you think, so it’s best to wait if you’re on the cusp of taking responsibility.