Releasing goldfish into wild?

[KarenLN]

I’ve had them for 2 years, I don’t think they’re actually goldfish but they’re definitely some kind of relative. They’re small fish- the largest ones are about 4cm long. I can’t keep them as I’m moving abroad. I’ve been calling local pet shops to see if anyone will take them, but had no luck. One shop said they’d take them and to call back today, and when I did they said they don’t take Coldwater fish. I told you they were cold water fish when I first called! No friends or family can/will take them. It seems that my only choice is to release them into a public pond nearby Can anyone help? I’m in London

No. Don't do it.

When we got 2 mice once, the kids lost interest very quickly as they STANK, so they ended up being shoved in the bloody shed.

A few days after they dumped them in there, I said I am getting rid of them. What I did, was I took them to the local pet shop and asked them to take them in. They happily took them.

Given you now know what they are, the fish shops you contacted might take them. They are tropical.

They're platys. I'm surprised that you aren't over-run (over-swum?) with them. They breed like wildfire!

They can survive cold indoors temperatures, because it never gets anywhere near freezing, but they will die/ be predated very quickly if you release them.

ps - they're generally considered a tropical fish. If you've been keeping them in a cold-water tank that might be why they haven't over-bred. Also - they give birth to live young and will scoff them they get the chance.

They are live-bearing tooth carps (so are distantly related to goldfish, I suppose) native to South America, I think.

You're not releasing them, you're killing them - in a horrible way! If you really can't find them a new home, add clove oil to their water and it will kill them more humanely!

Pets At Home sold them as cold water fish I don’t trust that shop anymore anyway, won’t be buying anything from them again. I will try tropical fish shops, fingers crossed

I think live fish can be sold on eBay.

Set up a listing for fish and tank as a package. Start a low price and someone will even come and collect it from you

I don't think you should buy any more OP

Look up fish welfare and rescue on FB. They will take any fish from anywhere in the UK and rehome

I'd rather you put them out of their misery than release them into wild. I am am animal lover, but also an ecologist. Think about our native wildlife

Look, at least two posters on here have offered the fish a new home, as well as advice to OP on how to rehome them. I think we can rest easy that they will be taken in and cared for by someone.

(And I almost offered to have them myself, but our tank isn't big enough to add more than a couple of fish and I'm not entirely sure how they would get on with our resident three.)

Oh gosh if they were cold water I'd be coming over to you tomorrow! But I wouldn't have a clue with tropical!

They aren’t tropical, they sometimes need a heater but it depends on warm your house is

Sorry I should add they are temperate fish. Say... in between cold and tropical in basic terms. Yes they can live in tropical or cold water but temp needs to be watched regardless

Update: just dropped them off at Maidenhead Aquatics Happy they will be looked after and eventually adopted. Thank you so much to the person who originally suggested MA, and to everyone else for all the help. I’m sure the fish thank you all too!

About half a dozen were released into a pond in a village near us.. they weren't there long.

Someone called the rspca and they weren't interested.

The RSPCA never are interested Raver.

They are a bunch of bullying useless tossersin my experience.

At the least sell them for a minimal sum on facebook so the poor things have some fighting chance you monster!

Are you actually for real? How do you live in normal society if you think this makes someone a monster?

Result! Well done OP.

(I would have added but one doesn't really cuddle goldfish...)