Can pet goldfish be released?

[hobble]

We have a pet goldfish who is eight years old now. He has been on his own for the last 4 years and is really too big for the tank. I live in such a small house I can't get a bigger tank and as goldfish grow quite big I wonder if I could put him into a private garden pond?
Obviously when the water is warmer, If this is allowed, would he survive the move?
I am starting to feel bad about the amount of space he has. Any ideas/advice welcome. Thanks.
I am very attached to him.......

[Dan Salter]

If he currently lives in cold non heated water then i cannot see why not?
Im so very glad you said a "private garden pond" as when i started reading the message i thought you were goin to ask if it could be released into the village pond or lake or local river which would be a definate NO NO !.

Ill wait for others advice but i think it may be ok?...maybe he needs a half way situation where you put him in his tank for a week or so outside to acclimatise but i dont know?

[naturelover]

This is what you do,put him in a strong plastic bag half full of his tank water,make sure there is air in the bag above the water,tie a knot,then you float him in his new pond for at least half an hour so the water in the bag is the same tempriture as the pond water,undo the bag and gently add some pond water so that the two waters mix,then after about five mins you will be able to release him into his new home.

[Kayleigh]

Do just as naturelover has said..I had a goldfish in a small tank and when I dug the pong he went in there. That was two years ago. He now lives in my friends pond as I want to eventually have no fish.

[hobble]

Thanks for the advice so far, although I am now wondering if he would still have to be fed? or would he learn to eat naturally.

[naturelover]

not to worry this time of year goldfish do not normaly eat after the tempriture drops below 50f,not only that his instinks will take over,he will be fine i asure you.

[Bullseye]

Sounds like this fish is not used to really cold water what with being kept indoors,wait till spring (late spring is when I start to put tropical fish in my pond,if I think it's going to be a warm summer).

[naturelover]

hi and welcome,you put tropical fish in your pond,i have never heard of that befor,do they servive ?

[Dan Salter]

Its a coldwater goldfish not a "tropical fish" which live in warm waters or heated tanks.
if you are putting tropical fish in your pond in england they wont be surviving.

[hobble]

Just to clear things up our goldfish is a cold water fish. I will wait until later in the year to release him, gives me time to check out my friends private ponds!!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by hobble

Just to clear things up our goldfish is a cold water fish. I will wait until later in the year to release him, gives me time to check out my friends private ponds!!

Sounds like bullseye put his tropical fish outside..

If the pond where your fish is going, feed their fish yours will join in..I never fed mine as there was plenty of wild food. Insects are always laying eggs in it and they eat plants so don't worry he will thrive, and enjoy it better than a cramped old tank.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

if you are putting tropical fish in your pond in england they wont be surviving.

Not only do they survive,they thrive !,been doing it a few years now,put them in late May early June if it's a warm summer.Egglayers and livebearers breed like mad ,I've been breeding trops in tanks for 35years on and off and the fry grow much quicker in a pond,so much natural food for them.The fish "revert" to natural behavior within about a week,and it's their behavior that's really interesting,nothing like in a tank.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Not only do they survive,they thrive !,been doing it a few years now,put them in late May early June if it's a warm summer.Egglayers and livebearers breed like mad ,I've been breeding trops in tanks for 35years on and off and the fry grow much quicker in a pond,so much natural food for them.The fish "revert" to natural behavior within about a week,and it's their behavior that's really interesting,nothing like in a tank.

I guess u catch them all at the end of the year? Ive heard of doing this, the best way to get some species to breed - considered it myself too

[Dan Salter]

i stand corrected !

although it worried me?...whats to stop a bird picking up some tropicals and later dropping them into a UK lake/ river/ waterway?....

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

i stand corrected !

although it worried me?...whats to stop a bird picking up some tropicals and later dropping them into a UK lake/ river/ waterway?....

Then I doubt they would survive the winter.

[DuncanE]

Something to note. If you have a goldfish in a heated aquarium (for example with tropical fish) they will grow quite big - bigger than in a cold water environment. Then it probably also depends on the breed too.

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by Dan Salter

i stand corrected !

although it worried me?...whats to stop a bird picking up some tropicals and later dropping them into a UK lake/ river/ waterway?....

Winter !. Any bird picking them ?,they'd go down it's gullet.!

[smileysnake]

One observation about chosing when to release your fish. Obviously even though it is in a cold water tank, ie. not heated internally, it is still going to be heated by your household heating,which on average, unless you've got a very warm/cold house will probably be around 20-23C. It would therefore be sensible to release when the outdoor temperarure is slightly higher than this, as your pond water will be cooler, following the procedure described above.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Winter !. Any bird picking them ?,they'd go down it's gullet.!

Hmmm sometimes a bird will carry a fish a little way. Also if fish eggs get stuck to a bird's legs, (mine bathe in the edges of the pond), couldn't they get transferred to streams etc ?

As for the original goldfish, I'd pop him in the pond as suggested, however, would wait until end of march maybe, it may well have a shock in freezing, ice covered water during our cold snaps. I'd go with naturelover too in that it wouldn't need food for a while and by then it's instincts should kick in, as long as your pond is a fairly well established one containing appropriate food chain elements.