Australia Must Face their Giant Goldfish Problem

Carassius auratus, yes, that is the name for the common household goldfish. Indeed, the ones that expire in the plastic bags on the way home from the carnival after that historic ring toss or live in their tank for weeks and perhaps years, even though everyone’s sure they haven’t been feeding it. These fish are causing a huge problem in Australia, one that matches the stature they can grow to in the wild. The unfortunate characteristics of these goldfish quickly amount to something very invasive and very destructive to Australia’s environment.

The goldfish themselves carry diseases that are rare within the lakes they are now inhabiting. In fact, an unprecedented disease has already found its way inside goldfish and out onto humans. The disease in question causes lesions on human skin. They are also known for eating eggs from the native fish greatly disturbing the creatures that have developed an ecosystem in the water. Explosions of algae are also cause for alarm, as goldfish disturb the foundation of lakes with their bottom-feeder tendencies.

The reason that Australia is having such a problem with these supposedly docile and small creatures is because of mercy. The owners of these goldfish are releasing them into the wild when they no longer with to care for them. Instead of selling them or getting rid of them in a grizzly way, they send them into an ecosystem that cannot support them. It may sound cold hearted to cease releasing these creatures, but they are able to grow up to four pounds, dominating the native life around them. Australia has one of the most varied and disparate type of wildlife in the world, and it’s a shame that a small creature could do so much damage.

Image via Wikimedia