INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife warns Hoosiers not to dump their aquatic pets after finding two massive goldfish swimming in an Indiana waterway.
While releasing unwanted pet fish into the wild might seem easy, doing so can introduce invasive species to Indiana’s native ecosystems.
The department said that even if tropical fish can’t survive Indiana’s winters, they can still spread diseases to Indiana native fish.
Officials say domesticated fish, including goldfish, can survive and thrive, causing severe damage to Indiana waterways and crowding out native fish. The typical length of a goldfish is between 5-8 inches, but they can reach close to 2 feet long and weigh up to 6 pounds
To help prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species, the department asks that old bait be tossed out in the trash and unwanted pet fish are rehomed rather than dumped.
