Unfortunately, our local creeks and ponds are full of feral fish species and aquatic weeds. Most of these have been released by people or overflowed from ponds in heavy rain.
Your local creek or pond is not the place to dump unwanted aquarium fish, weeds or snails. They could introduce diseases into the environment. They also compete for food, eat juvenile native fish and eggs, uproot and eat plants and can completely take over waterways, leaving virtually no native fish at all. Humpybong Creek and Dowse Lagoon are prime examples of areas where feral fish have taken over.
How To Rehome Your Fish
You should rehome your fish by:
- Taking them to your local aquarium specialty store or pet shop
- Giving them away to a friend
- Advertising them for free on social media.
Consider stocking one of the many interesting and colourful species of native Australian fish in your aquariums and ponds. They present less risk to our environment if they escape during flooding events.
Read more stories from our Redcliffe Guide print magazine here: