Unusual occupants of river

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Due to the size i would assume that they have out grown a tank and been released.

If that's the case they may not survive the winter.
Some are not that hardy. I know the fantails wouldn't survive our winters outside.

[Dogghound]

Yes unless its mild, most of the ornamental species dont survive. Also being in a river the current will probrably be alot faster with more water in winter and goldfish arnt strong swimmers.

[RobinP]

I only saw them once, and there quite a few in small groups, maybe as many as 20. It's not the sort of river to hold Pike, being fairly shallow, but Herons and the odd Cormorant are quite frequent here, though I guess if they followed it downstream they might have got into deep water (literally as well as metaphorically!)

[Wildbear]

Ornamental fish and illegally stocked fish pose a BIG THREAT to our native fish stocks 'KHV' kio herpes virus can wipe out complete fish stocks!!!

DO NOT DUMP GOLDFISH/KOI IN PONDS AND RIVERS

[dampflippers]

I was just going to add that it is illegal to release any non native fish or creatures like turtles into wild waterways and ponds, as it is to release non native pond plants from your garden pond.

(see the signal crayfish thread Signal Crayfish - Releasing into the Wild is illegal )