If this closed goldfish starts to lose its luster, think twice before throwing it into the river or canal – the creatures may look innocent, but their insatiable appetite, cold tolerance and fun habits compared to native species can to be catastrophic for local wildlife.
New research shows that goldfish consume much more than comparable fish in UK waters, eat more than other invasive fish and are also much more likely to aggressively adopt other competing species.
This means that goldfish pose a triple threat, according to Dr. James Dickie of Queen’s University in Belfast, lead author of the study.
“They are not only easily accessible, but they combine insatiable appetites with bold behavior,” he said. “While the northern European climate is often a barrier to the survival of non-native species in the wild, goldfish are known to be tolerant of such conditions and can pose a real threat to local biodiversity in rivers and lakes, devouring the resources on which other species depend. . “
The study failed to assess whether more goldfish were released into the wild by pet owners who bought new fish during the blockade, but anecdotal reports suggest that may be the case.
“Although our research does not focus on whether this problem has worsened since the blockade, there is reason to believe that this is or at least will be the case,” Dickie said.
“There was recent news of a released Amazon catfish found in Glasgow that may be related. There may also be a delay in time and it may only be this summer when normalcy resumes and, for example, people want to travel [and leave their pets behind]that we are beginning to see the effects. “
The study, published in the journal NeoBiota on Wednesday, examined the two most commonly traded fish species in Northern Ireland: the goldfish, which is an invasive species worldwide, and the white cloud mountain race, which has not yet established much invasive support. Both species are members of the carp family and originate from East Asia.
Researchers have developed a new method for assessing and comparing the impact of both species, looking at availability, feeding speed and behavior. By these standards, goldfish far surpass the white cloud gentleman and have been shown to be able to wreak havoc on local wildlife populations in lakes, rivers and streams in the UK.
Goldfish catch spoons and other small fish when they are released into UK waterways, damaging natural ecosystems.
In the United States, goldfish have been found to grow to more than 30 cm (1 foot) in some waterways due to their ability to adapt.
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Many pet owners believe they are acting humanely by releasing their goldfish into the wild, but Dickie warned that this is destructive.
Another way to limit the damage, according to the study, would be for pet stores to store more alternative species that do not pose such an invasive risk.
“Goldfish are at high risk,” Dickie said. “Limit the presence of potentially influential [species, such as goldfish] together with better education for pet owners is a solution to prevent the establishment of harmful invaders in the future. “
Putting unwanted fish in the toilet is also a no-no, according to Dickie. But he said some pet stores will take the fish back, though not usually with a refund, and there are websites like Preloved.co.uk where they can be donated or exchanged.
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