Goldfish the size of FOOTBALLS take over Minnesota lake after residents release their unwanted pets into the wild

[DrQ]

I remember this happening to a small lake in the town where I grew up in the 60's.
Back then they took the nuclear approach and treated the water with a chemical which depleted the oxygen in the water to kill off all the fish.
Goldfish the size of FOOTBALLS take over Minnesota lake after residents release their unwanted pets into the wild

• Officials of a Minnesota city are urging residents not to release their pet goldfish into the wild
• These fish can grow more than one-foot-long when given enough room
• Officials are pulling fish out from Keller Lake that are the size of footballs
• These fish become an invasive species and disrupt the ecosystem

Goldfish the size of FOOTBALLS take over Minnesota lake

Football-sized goldfish are being pulled from Keller Lake in Minnesota. Officials say they were once pets and released into the wild where they have enough food sources to grow.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Mongoose]

I would much prefer this over Alligators in the NY sewers...

 

[Brett]

time to go fishing

 

[DrQ]

Just be sure clean the "mud vein":

How to Clean and Fillet the Common Carp for a Tasty Meal

Here's how to clean and fillet the common carp–also called a grass carp–for a delicious meal. Clean the mud vein if you want to eat it whole.

www.thespruceeats.com

 

[tombanjo]

When cross breed with Minnesota's famous Walleye, you get the astonishing GoldenEye

 

[mentalbreak]

Wow. This is the town where I grew up.
I wouldn’t think that goldfish are hearty enough to survive Minnesota winters.
It is really sad to see the effects of invasive species over the last 15-20 years. So many beautiful lakes that will likely never be the same. So far our family cabin’s lake has been spared, but I’m sure it is only a matter of time before the Zebra mussels arrive.

 

[artringwald]

I wouldn’t think that goldfish are hearty enough to survive Minnesota winters.

As long as a lake is deep enough so it doesn't freeze solid, the water under the ice will be 32 degrees or higher.

 

[easyrider]

We used goldfish for bait years ago. They were cheap at ten for a dollar. The big fish really liked the goldfish. When we were done we would let the rest of the goldfish free. That lake never had a go!dish problem.

Bill

 

[DrQ]

As long as a lake is deep enough so it doesn't freeze solid, the water under the ice will be 32 degrees or higher.

We had a fountain on campus (central Indiana) which had ornamental carp (big goldfish) which was deep enough that they could winter over. It was probably 2' - 3' deep.

 

[DrQ]

We used goldfish for bait years ago. They were cheap at ten for a dollar. The big fish really liked the goldfish. When we were done we would let the rest of the goldfish free. That lake never had a go!dish problem.

Bill

Just be glad it's not one of these bad boys:

Great Lakes Fishery Commission - Invasive Carps

www.glfc.org

 

[easyrider]

Just be glad it's not one of these bad boys:

Great Lakes Fishery Commission - Invasive Carps

www.glfc.org

I know those fish. They were brought to the USA with permission from the FEDs to clean up algae and escaped after a storm. It is a different fish. We do have non-native carp, pike minnow, bass, walleye, crawdads and char in our waters that were brought here to enhance but they seem to mess up habitat for native fish.

Bill

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

We had a fountain on campus (central Indiana) which had ornamental carp (big goldfish) which was deep enough that they could winter over. It was probably 2' - 3' deep.

FYI, "ornamental carp" are known as Koi, Koi and Goldfish are two different fish evolved from Japanese Carp. Essentially, both Carp/Koi and Goldfish are "invasive" because they do not have a sense that they are full, so they will eat plants constantly, and constantly poop. But, in either a pond or aquarium, they are great pets. They are considered Cold Water fish, meaning they are perfectly fine in temperatures between 33 - 90 F.

TS

 

[DrQ]

I know those fish. They were brought to the USA with permission from the FEDs to clean up algae and escaped after a storm. It is a different fish. We do have non-native carp, pike minnow, bass, walleye, crawdads and char in our waters that were brought here to enhance but they seem to mess up habitat for native fish.

Bill

Certain types of fish are being renamed in the wake of anti-Asian hate crimes | CNN

Grass, bighead, silver and black carp have been commonly known as "Asian" carp since the 1970s, but officials say calling these invasive fishes "Asian," and then promoting efforts to control their population, has xenophobic connotations.

edition.cnn.com