Illinois Goldfish Owners, You Could Be Killing the Great Lakes

I assumed that goldfish were one of the most harmless pets you could own. Boy, was I wrong. Illinois residents are being warned that these tiny little adorable fish could kill the Great Lakes.

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I remember having a goldfish as a kid in Missouri. I don't remember the poor little guy living long as I was a poor goldfish manager. I have heard that some release their goldfish "into the wild" sometimes which apparently is a very bad idea.

MSN just shared a remarkable article that says "Giant Goldfish are Bad News for the Great Lakes". Giant goldfish? If you're an Illinois goldfish owner and live near a waterway that connects to the Great Lakes, consider this your warning. DO NOT RELEASE YOUR GOLDFISH INTO THE WILD OR IT WILL BECOME LARGER THAN THIS ALL-CAPS TEXT.

I had no idea that goldfish are eaters with a big-time appetite and they can grow to bigger than football size. This is a SyFy movie waiting to happen.

What can you do if you live in Illinois and have a goldfish you no longer want?

Michigan State University says to return the fish to the retailer you got it from. They also say you can find someone to adopt your fish and that some veterinarians can arrange humane ways to get rid of the little fish. DO NOT FLUSH IT DOWN THE TOILET unless you'd like to see a goldfish the size of Godzilla on the news.

If goldfish owners don't heed the warnings, the Great Lakes will become full of giant pets. Now you know.