Massive Perth Goldfish – 1.9 kg Goldfish makes world news headlines
Our Super Massive Perth goldfish problem is making headlines around the world.
The huge rogue goldfish now found in rivers and lakes around Perth is a popular news story around the world, with outlets like the BBC and Washington Post publishing photos taken by Murdoch University researchers.
These huge goldfish, found in Perth waterways, are growing up to 1.9kgs, the ABC reported. They’re becoming a major problem for our native fish species and other freshwater life.
#ICYMI: Giant goldfish threatening freshwater species in WA waterways, researchers find https://t.co/NoxCWUzKdJ pic.twitter.com/md36rxODxW
— ABC News (@abcnews) August 16, 2016
These rogue goldfish are causing havoc for our local freshwater habitats, Murdoch University’s Dr Stephen Beatty told ABC Perth.
“They cruise along the bottom stirring up the substrate with their feeding strategy,” Dr Beatty, from the Murdoch University School of Veterinary and Life Sciences said.
“This can re-suspend nutrients into the water column, which exacerbates things like algal blooms.
“They can also disrupt aquatic plants and eat other fish’s eggs.”
Incredible Distances
The Murdoch University researchers found that one fish moved 231.3kms over a 365-day study period (including 5.4 km in a 24 hr period).
People need to stop releasing goldfish into the wild!
“Unfortunately a lot of people don’t understand that wetlands connect up to river systems and introduced fish, once they get in there, can do a lot of damage to native freshwater fish and the aquatic habitat.”
Dr Beatty said “whatever you do, don’t release fish into waterways.”
If you must get rid of your goldfish, the best thing to do is to euthanise them in the freezer.
Keen on some heavy reading? The fascinating story of our Super Massive Goldfish….
Read the Murdoch University Academic Paper : First evidence of spawning migration by goldfish (Carassius auratus); implications for control of a globally invasive species published in the international journal Ecology of Freshwater Fish
