Someone Dumped a Goldfish in Lake Erie and Now It’s a Foot Long

During a recent fish survey in Lake Erie, a footlong goldfish was netted that someone had released into the water.

Get our free mobile app

Never Dump Pet Fish Into Lake or River

You would think this would go without saying but for those in the cheap seats, DON'T DUMP YOUR PET FISH INTO LAKES AND RIVERS.

Most pet fish are not native to Michigan waters and therefore can cause a real problem with the existing fish that are naturally in the Great Lakes and the state's inland waters.

Goldfish are from Asia and tend to feed where fish in Michigan lay their eggs which is not a good thing for native species to continue to breed.  Plus, they take food from the native fish in our waters. Goldfish in particular are an invasive species and are not only becoming a problem in Michigan but almost all waters in North America.

These innocent-looking goldfish live in fresh water and survive quite well, even when a lake freezes over. They can also survive under pretty harsh water conditions and can go long periods of time without oxygen making them fish that could outlive our native species.

Another problem goldfish bring is they can mate with carp bringing a whole new breed of fish to an ecosystem.

Footlong Goldfish Found in Lake Erie

WOOD reported a pair of technicians discovered a footlong goldfish during a recent survey on Lake Erie in Fairport Harbor, Ohio.

If you are tired of your goldfish, don't flush it down the toilet, it can make it through the sewer system, then wind up in a creek, stream, river, or lake and that is when the real problems begin. Put out an ad on social media or Craigslist for a free goldfish, someone will take it.