A goldfish that survived getting flushed down the toilet by its owner grew to a staggering 14 inches in the River Niagara.
The fish was found downstream of a wastewater treatment plant in the Niagara River in New York after it was apparently discarded as a house pet.
A non-profit organisation called Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper caught the fish in the river’s Black Rock Canal.
In a Facebook post a BNW spokesperson wrote: “This is why you should never flush your fish!”
“Goldfish can survive year-round in our watershed and can destroy the habitat of native fish.”
The post was accompanied by a picture of the giant fish held in two hands by employee Marcus Rostens.
It read: “Scientists estimate that tens of millions of goldfish now live in the Great Lakes.”
“If you cannot keep your pet, please return it to the store instead of flushing or releasing it.”
BNW posted the image, which is believed to be a few years old, to educate people about the dangers of flushing fish.
Goldfish are native to eastern Asia and usually reach about 1 to 2 inches in length when they live in aquariums or small fish tanks.
However, when goldfish are released into streams and rivers they often grow to be 12 to 14 inches long, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
A BNW representative warned how invasive goldfish disrupt the natural biodiversity of vulnerable freshwater environments in large numbers.
The representative told Live Science: "Aquatic invasive species that don't naturally belong in the Great Lakes, like this goldfish, are a constant threat to the health of native wildlife populations and their habitats."
