Goldfish Leaving the Bowl

Giant Goldfish found in Lake Tahoe held by Researcher Chritine Ngai

PHOTO CREDIT: Heather Segale

What happens When the Goldfish Leaves the Bowl? By Rebecca Noah

Have you ever wondered what would have happened to your first pet goldfish if it were given a bigger fish bowl? Well, Bubbles may have ended up looking very similar to the giant goldfish in the picture. Massive goldfish have been popping up in Lake Tahoe, California and experts are pointing the anomaly to aquarium dumping. Apparently, in a corner of the lake there were approximately 15 giant goldfish living, an indication that the fish are schooling and reproducing. Scientists have no way of knowing whether the common domestic goldfish (Carassius auratus) was introduced as fully grown adults or as juveniles, but either way the introduction of very few individuals can lead to a major environmental problem. The goldfish in Lake Tahoe are just one example of the countless invasive species existing nationwide in aquatic and terrestrial systems. Invasive species are often detrimental to ecosystems because they usually have no natural predators and outcompete native species for resources throwing off the ecosystem’s ecological balance. One major concern of the goldfish is that they produce an abundance of nitrogen (in the form of ammonia waste), which can lead to water quality issues. Nitrogen, when in excess, is a key nutrient that causes harmful algal blooms, drawing oxygen out of the system and leaving the area bare and lifeless. Aquarium dumping is one of the many ways invasive species make their way into ecosystems and now it may also be one of the largest causes of invasive problems. A study done at University of California found that aquarium dumping has contributed to one third of aquatic and invasive species problems worldwide (4). Aquarists and tank owners dump unwanted tank life into toilets, sewers and or directly into a water source causing a load of problems for the ecosystem. Although researchers have no numerical data on how many aquarists are dumping, they know that aquarists dump because the invasive species that present themselves in natural systems are only found in the aquatic pet–trade industry and have no other way of arriving in the United States’ aquatic and terrestrial environments. To make matters worse, aquarium species are highly likely to survive in the wild because they already have to be tough to be able to survive the pet trade (1). Some are even tough enough that they will survive a trip down the toilet.

With warmer weather just around the corner I— like many other individuals—am well aware of the impending bikini However, of the causes of invasive problems, aquarium dumping may be one of the easiest to mitigate because it really only requires public awareness. Educating aquarium owners and pet shops about harmful affects season. As always, this reintroduces that dreaded word into my vocabulary—diet. It’s funny how so many fear this word when all aquarium dumping could help prevent a lot of aquaria from ending up in drainage systems and eventually into wait technically means is ‘the sustenance an individual consumes on a daily basis’. However, to go along with the current societal terways. Likewise, federal and local laws prohibiting the trade or sell of certain very invasive species can also reduce the ability for that invasive to come in contact with the natural environment. definition—where one reduces his or her caloric intake, or eats in a specific way so as to reduce weight—I decided to look into what Educating the public about the problem of invasive species due to aquarium dumping while also providing the latest diet fads were and see if any of them seemed promising. That is how I came across the eye opening documentary Fat, alternatives to dumping could likely significantly reduce the number of invasive problems. For example, any fish or aquatic pet can be sold or traded online or can also be brought back to pet shops to be put up for adoption, both of Sick, and Nearly Dead. which are something many people do not know.

This documentary brings to light the worldwide obesity epidemic and one man’s journey to turn his life around by los My first gold fish grew to be 4 inches long and lived in a 10 gallon tank, he was a trooper. Rest in peace Goldie, you will always be a giant goldfish in my book! ing weight. He starts his weight loss endeavor by drinking only fresh juice for sixty days, a process many know as juicing, followed by slowly incorporating healthy foods into his diet. Joe Cross, the main character, not only lost over one hundred pounds, but was also able to stop taking all of his medications just by drinking juice. His blood pressure went down, his blood sugar normalized, and his energy levels increased drastically. These tremendous results intrigued me. Is juicing really healthy? Can anyone do it, and will it really improve their way of life? Goldfish Should Never Live in a Bowl and 6 Other Lesser-Known Facts: In case you want to include a multimedia experience here is a youtube video about the discovery of the giant goldWhen juicing, you are simply extracting the juice from fruits and vegetables, which includes many important vitamins fish: and minerals. Many juicing advocates claim that “…juicing is better for you than eating whole fruits and vegetables because y 1. Largest pet goldfish recorded was 15 inches long and more than 2 lbs. http:// our body can absorb the nutrients better and it gives your digestive system a rest from working on fiber (MayoClinic).” Some re2. Goldfish are omnivores and will eat anything. www.youtube.com/ watch? searchers also argue that juicing can reduce the risk of cancer, increase the strength of your immune system, remove toxins from 3. Goldfish are a member of the Carp family ( ); which explains v=j5yfWYHtRos their hardiness and large appetite. your body, improve your digestion and assist in weight loss (MayoClinic). Additionally, it’s much easier to drink one cup of vege4. Contrary to popular belief, GOLDFISH LIVE A LONG TIME! The oldest rec-tables and fruits— which usually contains the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended daily requirements—orded goldfish was 43 years old! When overfed and placed in a bowl than trying to eat all of those products in their whole form in one sitting. However, juicing full time like Joe Cross is a bit extreme because that essentially drowns them in their own excrement and waste their lifespan tends to be short-lived. without eating fruits and vegetables whole, he was depriving himself of a substantial amount of dietary fiber. Fiber helps con5. Despite another common myth, Goldfish have pretty impressive memotrol cholesterol levels and ensures that individuals have healthy bowel movements (MayoClinic). ries—they have a memory span of 3-4 months or more and can distinguish shapes, colors, and sounds. Goldfish can even preform tricks and After considering these facts, I decided to try ‘part recognize their owners. -time’ juicing, meaning I would juice for only one meal of the day and eat normal, mostly healthy meals for the rest of the day. One week into this endeavor, I was thoroughly surprised by how deli6. Goldfish tend to live in a group, another reason why the lone goldfish in a cious the juices came out each time and how easy juicing really was. I was also surprised to find that each juice was filling, and I bowl doesn’t survive well. could in fact replace a meal, such as breakfast, for juice and be perfectly content— more so than if I ate yogurt and toast for breakfast, or even an omelet. I was also amazed by how much energy I suddenly had; I am generally already an energetic person, but when I drank the juice in the morning I would be energetic all day without the need for coffee. I definitely intend to continue juicing—it makes me feel much more alert and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to feel better in a healthy way. One of my favorite juice concoctions thus far is made of kale, cucumbers, apple, and tomatoes. If you are intereste Work Cited: d in juicing, below are a few good sources for more information and for recipes that are definitely worth trying! "Oldest Goldfish Has His Chips." BBC News. BBC, 08 July 1999. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Oskin, Becky. "Protect the Oceans: Don't Flush That Fish!" Water: Ocean, Beaches, Rivers, Lakes. OurAmazingPlant.com, 14 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Lewis, Tanya. "Monster Goldfish Found in Lake Tahoe." LiveScience.com. Techmedianetwork.com, 21 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.

Neuman, Scott. "Aquarium Dumping Linked To Giant Tahoe Goldfish." The Two-way. NPR, 22 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Mar. 2013.