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Subscribe to RSSScientists believe the massive goldfish may be the result of aquarium dumping, and could threaten the ecosystem of the lake. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
By Tanya Lewis
LiveScience
A new kind of lake monster has been found, in the depths of Lake Tahoe: gigantic goldfish. Researchers trawling the lake for invasive fish species scooped up a goldfish that was nearly 1.5 feet long and weighed 4.2 pounds.
"During these surveys, we've found a nice corner where there's about 15 other goldfish," environmental scientist Sudeep Chandra of the University of Nevada, Reno, told LiveScience. "It's an indication that they were schooling and spawning." The arrival of the fish, which were probably dumped there by aquarium owners, has Chandra worried — goldfish are an invasive species that could interfere with Lake Tahoe's ecosystem.
It's unclear whether the giant fish were introduced as fully grown adults, or while they were still small, Chandra said. But even a small creature can have a big impact, if there are enough of them.
The goldfish are just one of several species of invasive warm-water fishes in Lake Tahoe. "The invasion is resulting in the consumption of native species," Chandra said. What's more, the invasive fish excrete nutrients that cause algal blooms, which threaten to muddy Tahoe's clear waters. [Photos: Giant Goldfish & Other Freaky Fish]
Fish out of water
Aquarium dumping has become a common practice in the United States and elsewhere, and it's taking a toll on native wildlife. A recent report on California's aquarium trade found that fish owners and importers are introducing hardy, nonnative aquatic species to California waters. "Globally, the aquarium trade has contributed a third of the world's worst aquatic and invasive species," Williams, who was lead author of the report, told OurAmazingPlanet, a sister site of LiveScience, in January.
While the exact number of aquarium owners dumping fish is unknown, scientists know the practice is occurring because these species could not have ended up in these waters naturally. Between 20 percent and 69 percent of fish keepers surveyed in Texas admitted to dumping, according to Williams.
Other ways that invasive species find their way into natural ecosystems include aquaculture, live seafood, live bait, and fishing and recreation vessels. More than 11 million non-native marine organisms representing at least 102 species arrive at ports in San Francisco and Los Angeles alone, Williams has found.
The invaders include tropical fish, seaweed and snails. One of the nastiest is a deadly type of seaweed known as Caulerpa. A type of algae that produces toxic compounds that kill off fish, Caulerpa was eradicated in 2000 (at great expense) from lagoons in Southern California.
Don't dump fish
Aquarium owners should be more careful when disposing of unwanted fish and other animals, Williams cautioned. "It's pretty simple: Don't dump your fish," she said. Instead, she suggests calling the pet shop that sold the fish or your state department of fish and wildlife. (Euthanasia is another option, but simply flushing fish down the toilet can be problematic — for the fish and for your plumbing.)
So why do people dump fish? Studies of dumping have shown that size and aggressiveness of the fish are two main factors, Williams said.
The largest pet goldfish, according to the BBC, was a fish named Goldie that was 15 inches (38 centimeters) long and weighed more than 2 pounds (0.9 kg).
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Leave a Comment:
Bring that baby down to the Ozarks where we use it for bait to catch some Blue Catfish weighing in the vicinity of 110 pounds.
Raise algae levels? Goldfish eat algae!!
Asians love fish like carp, which a goldfish is a relative of so this is a great day for Asians indeed. Americans find the fish vile to eat but it just means more for us, yum!
Umm, one sure way to keep invasive fish from our lakes is to stop selling them in Aquarium stores. Problem solved!
Now im afraid to let my pet rock back into the wild
Good one, Jack.
Maybe he just got lost, like Nemo. Maybe he did not get dumped by his owner, but got sick of his owner, and ran away from home. Or maybe he was just a wild goldfish to begin with. Surely the very first goldfish on earth was not in a goldfish bowl. I think Obama should raise our taxes and spend about ten zillion dollars researching this further.
It's time we made the keeping of any animal species not native to your particular area illegal to possess. Sorry if you animal lovers don't like that, but it is ridiculous how many foreign species are slowly ruining North America. Same for plants. If it doesn't grow or live in your backyard, you can't have it...
So that would mean people cannot travel away from where they are born since they might carry a germ from another area that might infect people in another area.
Just what this country needs. More people minding everyone elses business but their own.
News Flash !!! The world is going to end someday and there's not a damn thing anyone or everyone can do about it. Every thing that has a beginning also has an end.
Bass: a common fresh-water fish with a deep voice. Not to be confused with Thesaurus, a prehistoric reptile known for its outstanding vocabulary.
Or it's bigger cousin Thesaurus Rex.
Contrary to the claim made in the news article, Lake Tahoe is not the pristine lake it once was. Tourism, boating, recreation, and land development in and around Lake Tahoe have polluted the once crystal clear lake. Invasive species are merely evidence of human polluters invading Lake Tahoe in greater numbers.
On a bigger perspective, the European Homosapien is an invasive specie in the Lake Tahoe area having been dumped there by the European Establishment.
To preserve the purity and natural beauty of Lake Tahoe, it's time to eradicate these non-native specie called European Homosapien from the area.
Agreed,
The Big Fire back a few years also created problems for the water quality.
People probably dump their aquarium fish in the dead of night for fear that some eco-terrorist would do them physical harm if they killed the little fishie.
LOL
Can I have one?
Better goldfish than giant, nasty killer squid.
Just stock the lake with large -mouth bass they love goldfish the best bait for them to bad its illegal .
'
Could be from all the anti-depressants dumped into the sewer systems entering the waters or could have been transferred from fresh water dam areas where people feed the carps with gold ones as big as the other carps.
Holy carp LitterHater, I don't remember ever reading a single sentence as long as yours in my life. LOL
Best way to kill a goldfish is to drop aspirin in the fish bowl.. Turns the fish bowl Blood red. Then you flush it down the toilet. Only do if you really want to get rid of it.. btw i learned this when i was three experimenting with with over the counter drugs on my parents fish tank.Thought the fishes had a headache :/
Fish eggs can stick to birds legs, when a bird drinks from a pond, then be washed off into another pond when the bird stops for another drink. If Goldfish are in an outside pond and breeding then this could be a way they get into our lakes.
I have seen, and many others have seen, fishermen use goldies as bait. It is common to have live bait get off the hook and become a problem. Live bait should be banned in all fresh waters in the USA. I have used water-dogs to catch bass and they are becoming illegal to use as bait. It isn't all aquarium dumpers that are at fault. If caught, the fine should be in the THOUSANDS of dollars and the offender should have to pay for the cleanup.
He must be a dentist, and advertising everywhere. Either that or he's some girls dad, and her boyfriend smokes, drinks coffee, and has bad breath!!!
This is a problem with our society. Owners dump their pets when they grow too big or problematic for them. I'm not just talking fish here; dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles...You name it, it gets dumped. All three of my pets were found wandering and starving. It's so sad to see this.
If you want a pet please do some research first to make sure the animal is a good fit for you and your family.
One Question, Does his azz hold grease?
Put a bounty on them, problem solved.