Goldfish are a type of carp that are native to Asia. They have been popular as pets in the U.S. since the late 1800s. But what happens when someone no longer wants to care for their goldfish? 

Many people believe they’re doing the right thing by releasing their unwanted pet into a pond, lake, or stream. But goldfish that have lived in a bowl their whole lives might not survive in a river or lake.

“Many fish that have been bred in captivity aren’t suitable for living in the wild anymore,” says Matthew Neilson. He’s a scientist who studies fish for the U.S. Geological Survey.

Goldfish are a type of carp. They are native to Asia. Goldfish have been popular pets in the U.S. since the late 1800s. But what happens when someone no longer wants their goldfish? 

Many people think they’re doing the right thing by releasing their unwanted pet into the wild. But goldfish that have lived in a bowl might not survive in a river or lake.

“Many fish that have been bred in captivity aren’t suitable for living in the wild anymore,” says Matthew Neilson. He’s a scientist. He studies fish for the U.S. Geological Survey.

The fish that do survive can cause big problems. Goldfish reproduce quickly. Females can lay tens of thousands of eggs each year. Goldfish have no natural predators in the U.S. Before long they can take over a body of water. 

“Populations of invasive species become harder to control as they become more abundant,” Neilson explains.

All these goldfish gobble up the food that native fish need to survive. As pets, goldfish eat a few fish flakes or pellets each day. But in the wild, they eat almost anything, including other fish. Some grow to be more than a foot long and weigh more than 3 pounds! 

These supersized fish hunt for food at the bottom of a body of water. That stirs up sand and mud, making the water cloudy. Native fish and plants struggle to survive in these conditions.

The fish that do survive can cause big problems. Goldfish reproduce quickly. Females can lay tens of thousands of eggs each year. Goldfish have no natural predators in the U.S. They can soon take over a body of water. 

“Populations of invasive species become harder to control as they become more abundant,” Neilson says.

These goldfish eat the food that native fish need. As pets, goldfish eat a few fish flakes each day. But in the wild, they eat almost anything, including other fish. Some grow to be more than a foot long. They can weigh more than 3 pounds! 

These giant fish hunt for food at the bottom of the water. That stirs up sand and mud, making the water cloudy. These conditions make it hard for native fish and plants to survive. 

Dumping goldfish into U.S. waterways is illegal. But there are already so many invasive goldfish in the wild that removing them all would be nearly impossible. Still, experts say pet owners can help prevent the problem from getting worse. That starts with never dumping pet fish in the first place. If you no longer want a fish, take it to a pet store or an aquarium. Or find a friend or family member who can give it a safe new home.

“When you put things in a body of water that aren’t supposed to be there, you could be hurting animals you love,” Neilson says. 

Dumping goldfish into U.S. waterways is illegal. But there are already many invasive goldfish in the wild. Removing them all would be nearly impossible. Still, experts say pet owners can try to prevent the problem from getting worse. That starts with never dumping pet fish. If you no longer want a fish, take it to a pet store or an aquarium. Or find a friend who can give it a new home.

“When you put things in a body of water that aren’t supposed to be there, you could be hurting animals you love,” Neilson says.

1. According to the article, how did goldfish get into U.S. ponds, lakes, and rivers? 
2. What is the meaning of the word abundant as it is used in the article? What clues in the article support the idea that goldfish are abundant in some U.S. waterways?
3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Other Unwanted Guests”?

1. According to the article, how did goldfish get into U.S. ponds, lakes, and rivers? 
2. What is the meaning of the word abundant as it is used in the article? What clues in the article support the idea that goldfish are abundant in some U.S. waterways?
3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “Other Unwanted Guests”?