Officials Issue Warning After ‘Megalodon’ Goldfish Is Found in Pennsylvania Waterway

A bigger-than-usual discovery in Pennsylvania has prompted officials to warn what happens when “cute” turns to “brute” — as they’re reminding the public that leaving a pet goldfish in the wild can create an “invasive problem that can last decades.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) revealed on Facebook that experts spotted — and recovered — what they are calling a “megalodon” goldfish during a recent electrofishing survey in a Presque Isle State Park waterway.

Now, the agency is using the discovery to remind the public exactly why the aquatic creature “isn’t supposed to be here.”

“Someone released it, thinking they were being kind. Instead, they created an invasive problem that can last decades,” the USFWS wrote in a caption.

“Goldfish grow massive in the wild, where they can turn lakes and waterways into murky messes, steal food from native fish, and wreck water quality,” the agency added. “If you can’t keep your fish, re-home it. Just don’t let it loose.”

After posting a photo of USFWS employee Corey Ketchum holding the fish — which appears to be significantly larger than a standard at-home goldfish — the agency added the hashtag, “#InvasiveSpeciesWeek.” Another image in the comments section, shared by the USFWS, showed another agency official holding the fish with two hands.

“From cute to brute,” the agency captioned the snap.

Elsewhere in the post’s comments, the USFWS shared some insight into “how to break up with your goldfish,” before amplifying a concern from a commenter about goldfish being used as bait.

“It’s legal in 16 states to use goldfish as bait. All the states create their own fishing regulations, so it’s up to each state on what they allow for bait fish,” the USFWS clarified. “We always encourage anglers to never dump their bait after they’re done fishing. Bait dumping is one of the many ways invasive aquatic species and pathogens are introduced into waterways.”

The average lifespan of a goldfish in the wild is 41 years, according to National Geographic, which reports that they can top 5 lbs. in the wild. As previously reported in late 2023, goldfish have become an issue in the Great Lakes specifically, with an expert noting at the time that “millions” were swimming around.

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According to the USFWS’ website, wild goldfish can “balloon into giant, football-sized invaders that compete with native species for food and habitat.” Specifically, the species can make water murky, stir up sediment and uproot plants since they are bottom feeders, making it harder for native fish and plants to survive the environment.

Aside from their quick growth and disruption of water quality, goldfish spawn several times a season and have no natural predators, meaning they “multiply quickly” and stick around for a while, per the USFWS. They can also carry parasites and diseases for which other fish lack immunity.

Goldfish owners looking to part ways with their pets are encouraged to re-home them, return them to a pet store or contact local aquariums or rescue groups.

“Releasing a pet to the wild is never the right thing. Most pets released to the wild do not survive, and many suffer before they die,” the USFWS shared on its website. “If it does survive, your pet could become an invasive species that harms native wildlife.”