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Nature & Environment

Giant mutant goldfish run amok in rivers

By T.K. Randall
April 3, 2015 · Comment icon 18 comments

Wild goldfish can grow to enormous sizes. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Michelle Jo
Wildlife authorities in Australia have warned people not to release pet fish in to rivers and streams.
Goldfish might seem harmless swimming around inside their tank in your living room, but when released in to the wild these popular family pets can quickly multiply and grow to enormous sizes.

The problem is of particular concern in Australia where massive mutant goldfish and koi carp have been driving native species to the brink of extinction. Some of the goldfish released in the waterways of the country's western regions have grown to monstrous proportions and are now ten times their original size.
"People aren't really aware what damage they're going to have in the ecosystem," said Dr David Morgan, Director of the Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research at Murdoch University.

In addition to driving out native species the gigantic invaders are also bringing with them parasites and diseases that are further damaging the local ecosystem.

Researchers believe that at least 13 new species have been introduced in to the wild in recent years and that most of them have come from pet owners releasing fish in to the country's waterways.

Source: Daily Record | Comments (18)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #9 Posted by Father Merrin 9 years ago
So if I buy a small goldfish and put it inside a massive tank, it will grow huge? Eventually yes
Comment icon #10 Posted by Still Waters 9 years ago
Meh! I seen goldfish bigger than that in ponds. What the guy in the pic should be worried about is the size of that bug crawling down his arm. I think you're looking at the wrong photo. http://www.dailyreco...5445837#rlabs=1
Comment icon #11 Posted by Still Waters 9 years ago
I used to keep goldfish once upon a time, nothing too grand, just a couple of medium size tanks. Then one day I discovered I had a breeding pair, there would be eggs all over the bottom of one of the tanks. Prior to that though I could see they were rather frisky but still wasn't expecting one of them to lay eggs. Anyway this was all new to me so I asked for advice from a pet store in the town on how to take care of the young ones. I did my best but I think only about three of them hatched and the fry didn't survive long which was a shame. After a number of years and as the adult goldfish even... [More]
Comment icon #12 Posted by mynameisachu 9 years ago
they keep forgetting that its just natural survival of the fittest, they should just go fishing
Comment icon #13 Posted by schizoid78 9 years ago
I got a guy who told me about 1.3 decade ago that the best way to clean his outdoor pool in spring is to send goldfish in them. Goldfish would then eat everything bad things in the pool, and then you just have to pull two very big goldfish than a swarm of bad things! S
Comment icon #14 Posted by third_eye 9 years ago
Mutant Ship them over here and you'll get a couple of grand for one ... easy ... yeah ... USD ~
Comment icon #15 Posted by Mel0013 9 years ago
actually father merrin thats wrong. fish do not grow to thye size of their surroundings, if the tank is not big enough they become stressed and die prematurely giving the illusion that they grow to fit the tank.
Comment icon #16 Posted by Blurfoot 9 years ago
We're gonna need a bigger bowl!
Comment icon #17 Posted by Father Merrin 9 years ago
actually father merrin thats wrong. fish do not grow to thye size of their surroundings, if the tank is not big enough they become stressed and die prematurely giving the illusion that they grow to fit the tank. My friend......i did not say "fish" as i cannot speak on behalf of the entire chordata/Actinopterygii family, i mearly ment the carp genera gold fish koi etc, i have no facts to back up my statement, only 50 year + of combined experience that my family and i have accumulated with various carassius types. we have had 10 yearold koi in a small pond at around 30cm in lenth and get no larg... [More]
Comment icon #18 Posted by Erowin 9 years ago
So... if we release a goldfish into a massive whale tank, it will eventually be so big we could ride it? Genius!


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