As you probably didn’t know, goldfish are one of the worst invasive species in the world. With a small shape and easy-going characteristics, goldfish are the fish that many people choose to keep indoors. When you no longer want to keep goldfish, many people often choose to release them back into the lake and consider this action to “release, bless”. But for the natural world, the little goldfish that seems harmless to us has enormous consequences.
It takes a lot of expense to repair the damage
Did you know that the state of Washington, USA, has waged a campaign against invasions of this seemingly harmless gold? Thousands of fish have grown and developed at an alarming rate. The reason is that some fish owners “unwittingly” give these goldfish a “natural” life. If you think your action is to save this fish, you are wrong. In fact, you are indirectly causing ecological disasters, threatening the lives of hundreds of other species. To raise a goldfish, the owner costs only a few dollars for food, but to deal with the damage caused by the fish, the government costs up to 150,000 USD to remove them. Not only the United States, but also goldfish are invading the whole world, causing enormous damage. So in some countries the person who releases the goldfish can be sued and held responsible for solving the problem they create.
The first selective breeding of goldfish took place in China about 2000 years ago for food. In the 14th century, the image of the goldfish was promoted and gradually changed from being used as food to meet entertainment needs. Soon after, the trend of using goldfish as a pet became popular and popular around the world. In the 19th century, goldfish culture was introduced to North America.
How dangerous can this little fish be?
With enough time and resources, these tiny goldfish can grow to 10 times their original size. It has been recorded that a goldfish weighs almost 2 kg, which is equivalent to a soccer ball. On the other hand, this orange monster consumes a huge amount of food and can eat a variety of organisms such as insects, plants, crustaceans and other fish. This caused a serious ecological imbalance, threatening many other animals. Also, when foraging for food at the bottom of the water, it can have effects on the bottom of the water such as mud and sediment, causing aquatic algae to grow rapidly and become clogged.
Goldfish are fast reproducing fish.
In fact, goldfish are fish that reproduce quickly and migrate into many bodies of water. During their migration, they also carry a variety of parasites and pathogens that can wreak havoc on any ecosystem they enter. Therefore, goldfish are the main direct factor leading to the decline in the number of individuals of other fish species in the region.
In 2000 in Australia a number of goldfish were dumped into the river by farmers, which eventually sparked a population boom and migrated to the Vasse River in southwest Australia. And after more than two decades, it is still a dilemma the government has yet to resolve. These invasions also took place in several other countries such as Epping Forest, England; Lake Tahoe, Nevada;… Goldfish are estimated to make up more than half of all fish living in the Lake Tahoe area.
Goldfish are always a good pet
Although goldfish cause negative environmental damage, they are still the ideal pet for indoor aquariums. Did you know that contrary to what we often think that goldfish have 7s of memory, in fact they can store memories for at least 3 months which means you can teach them how to be entertaining. So think carefully before releasing your fish.
So what should you do if you no longer want to keep keeping goldfish?
If you can’t find a new owner for your fish, contact your local pet store or animal rescue center. Many organizations not only help find homes for animals like dogs and cats, but also birds, rabbits and fish. In case the fish is already sick, consult a veterinarian so that it can be euthanized. This is also considered a human act for both the fish and the natural environment. Absolutely do not leave sick fish in the wild and do not flush them down the toilet. Because they can spread pathogens in water and cause a lot of damage to the ecosystem.
