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Original poster

Goldfish shouldn’t be prizes at funfairs

37 replies

Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 06:55

I didn’t think this was a thing any more (the last time I saw goldfish offered as a prize was in the 1980s when I was a kid!)

However, there was a stall doing exactly this at a large firework display/concert on Saturday at a country house in East Suffolk (people from the area can have a good guess at where I mean)… Loads of goldfish in tiny plastic bags ready to be won if you could throw some darts accurately. I then saw a woman later that evening casually swinging her arm back and forth as she walked with a goldfish bag in hand, bashing the poor fish around in its tiny bag.

AIBU to think this practice is cruel and irresponsible, and that the country house who allowed this should be ashamed.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
dailyconniptions · 12/11/2025 00:37

Please would someone comment on their previously mentioned Facebook page about this? It's absolutely awful that this was happening and animals made to suffer.

SpinelessBastardsAll · 12/11/2025 00:12

Agree op. I wish everyone would also be as offended by the fishing industry.

Derpytiger · 11/11/2025 23:16

Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 23:12

Only on land they own it seems.

The law needs to be changed to ban it entirely.

Show quote history

If it's banned by the LA then a precedent is set in the area that gives more leverage to campaign when it happens at private events. I do animal welfare campaigning as my job. You'll not get the government to ban this quickly, it's way down the priority list. Tackling it at local authority level and writing to the venue, plus kicking up a fuss publicly on the event or venue page is most likely to get you the result you want more quickly.

Original poster
Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 23:12

Derpytiger · 11/11/2025 23:08

Write to local authority, they can ban it at events in the area. Try to encourage others also to write too. Also complain directly to the event organisers and venue. There's information about what to say on the RSPCA website.

Only on land they own it seems.

The law needs to be changed to ban it entirely.

OP posts:
Derpytiger · 11/11/2025 23:08

Write to local authority, they can ban it at events in the area. Try to encourage others also to write too. Also complain directly to the event organisers and venue. There's information about what to say on the RSPCA website.

XenoBitch · 11/11/2025 23:01

Wow, I thought it was banned already too.

And who on earth voted YABU? I wish they would comment.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 11/11/2025 22:14

Threads like this make me feel glad to see so many kind people who agree that tiny fish and their wellbeing do matter. Thank you, OP.

Original poster
Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 22:11

whoputallofthatthere · 11/11/2025 20:40

I too thought this was now illegal - shame on any event that allows this to happen.

Goldfish can live for up to 30 years and they can grow absolutely huge. they are also more intelligent than they are given credit for - the short memory thing is a myth.

So many people don't realise as so many of the poor creatures die prematurely due to poor care.

I hate the way we assign our own 'values' to other creatures. If this had been kittens there would have been an outcry at the event, but because they're "just fish", many people don't bat an eyelid.

OP, please consider reporting this event to the local council. I would also complain directly to the event organisers, including on social media.

I actually think there’s something really nasty, perhaps even psychotic, about people who peddle this at fairs. They’re deliberately and wantonly treating another animal cruelly and with contempt, as though it can be discarded to die the moment the novelty quickly wears off, as casually as a dandelion picked in a summer’s afternoon.

As children (and perhaps even now) they were the types who got sick pleasure in pulling the wings off flies or tormenting their pet cat….

OP posts:
whoputallofthatthere · 11/11/2025 20:40

I too thought this was now illegal - shame on any event that allows this to happen.

Goldfish can live for up to 30 years and they can grow absolutely huge. they are also more intelligent than they are given credit for - the short memory thing is a myth.

So many people don't realise as so many of the poor creatures die prematurely due to poor care.

I hate the way we assign our own 'values' to other creatures. If this had been kittens there would have been an outcry at the event, but because they're "just fish", many people don't bat an eyelid.

OP, please consider reporting this event to the local council. I would also complain directly to the event organisers, including on social media.

Pricelessadvice · 11/11/2025 20:25

I was surprised to see a county show had fish as prizes on one of their stands last summer. It was part of the child’s fun fair section. I saw lots of poor fish being carried around in bags that day.

Elsvieta · 11/11/2025 20:22

TheChosenTwo · 11/11/2025 07:27

Sil had one that her dd won and it lived for about 20 years 😱 I didn’t know they could live that long!
I didnt think it was still a thing that happened either op, it’s awful. Poor fishies 😭

Same here - in my parents' pond for about 15 years after I'd left home. It was about a foot long.

Original poster
Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 10:22

Catlover77 · 11/11/2025 09:43

Their facebook page states that it was amazing. Mumsnetters may wish to add a comment

The fireworks were amazing… the totally unnecessary goldfish stall marred the experience though.

OP posts:
Catlover77 · 11/11/2025 09:43

Their facebook page states that it was amazing. Mumsnetters may wish to add a comment

Talipesmum · 11/11/2025 08:30

ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 08:09

The bans south of the border are only on council owned land, which is presumably all that councils can make rules about, it wouldn’t help in the OPs case.

Show quote history

Yes, realised that after reading your post. Making a big fuss to the organisers probably the best first thing then.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 08:09

Talipesmum · 11/11/2025 07:58

Looks like it’s banned in Scotland, and some local authorities have specifically banned it across England, wales and NI, but not actually everywhere. So it might not actually be illegal where you are yet, but if it’s brought up enough to the local council they might add themselves to the list of places who ban it.
Even more worth reporting.
https://youraquarium.co.uk/aquarium-blog/rspca-re-launches-nofunatthefair-goldfish-campaign

The bans south of the border are only on council owned land, which is presumably all that councils can make rules about, it wouldn’t help in the OPs case.

Talipesmum · 11/11/2025 07:58

Looks like it’s banned in Scotland, and some local authorities have specifically banned it across England, wales and NI, but not actually everywhere. So it might not actually be illegal where you are yet, but if it’s brought up enough to the local council they might add themselves to the list of places who ban it.
Even more worth reporting.
https://youraquarium.co.uk/aquarium-blog/rspca-re-launches-nofunatthefair-goldfish-campaign

Original poster
Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 07:57

ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 07:54

I don’t see why - if there was an objection just the relevant post could be deleted.

Show quote history

Ok, the place is Heveningham Hall, near Halesworth, Suffolk.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 07:56

Makemeanonymous · 11/11/2025 07:50

Oh this thread has upset me.
I had absolutely no idea this was still a thing.
I agree with pp that you should publicise this and report it. Perhaps the RSPCA might be interested.

Yes.
their suggestion seems to be to contact your local councillor but I’m not sure that addresses the issue of what can happen on private land.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/petprizes

Ban Pets as Prizes | Stop Animals Being Given Away at Fairs - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Goldfish and other animals are still being given away as fairground prizes. Learn why we must ban pets as prizes and how you can take action today.

https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/petprizes

ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 07:54

Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 07:38

One person thinks IABU. I’d be interested to know why!

Can I name the place concerned on here, or would that get this thread pulled?

I don’t see why - if there was an objection just the relevant post could be deleted.

ErrolTheDragon · 11/11/2025 07:51

BigGirlBoxers · 11/11/2025 07:31

I think I just got reprimanded by Google AI:

'There is no direct information available on "fish welfare" in relation to a train from Athlone to Dublin, as this is a very specific and unlikely query.'
Grin

I'll need better keywords.

Show quote history

She didn’t say it was about fish. It’s quite easy to find if you leave that out - it was mostly chickens they’d been able to buy and it’s a horrible incident.

Makemeanonymous · 11/11/2025 07:50

Oh this thread has upset me.
I had absolutely no idea this was still a thing.
I agree with pp that you should publicise this and report it. Perhaps the RSPCA might be interested.

Original poster
Pigeonpoodle · 11/11/2025 07:48

Danikm151 · 11/11/2025 06:56

I thought this was banned already!
last time I saw this was 2010 maybe?

Me too. I wonder who thought “I know, wouldn’t it be great if we brought this back to the funfair!” The same people are probably planning to bring back the “freak show” next!

OP posts:
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 11/11/2025 07:45

I would name and shame on local social media if I were you OP. It may not be illegal on private land but they won't want bad PR.

CharlesChicken · 11/11/2025 07:42

They had this at a fireworks event I went to a few years ago and the guy had lights on his stall that warmed up the bags of water too much and all the fish died and were just left there floating in the bags. Horrific.

It should be a total ban.

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