Unwanted Pets: Giant Goldfish Turn up in Minnesota Waterways

(courtesy: Twitter/City of Burnsville)

BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) – Officials in Minnesota say they’re finding more giant goldfish in waterways, prompting a plea to citizens to stop illegally dumping their unwanted fish into ponds and lakes.

The goldfish, which can grow to the size of a football, compete with native species for food and increase algae in lakes.

Burnsville officials found 10 fish in Keller Lake earlier this month while doing a water quality survey.

Eighteen more fish were found Monday. Some were 18 inches long and weighed about 4 pounds.

Burnsville issued a plea on Twitter, saying: “Please don’t release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes!” The big goldfish are being captured and killed.

Please don’t release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes! They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants.
Groups of these large goldfish were recently found in Keller Lake. pic.twitter.com/Zmya2Ql1E2

— City of Burnsville (@BurnsvilleMN) July 9, 2021