You may think that goldfish is a docile and cute pet, as long as it is placed in a small fish tank, it can accompany you through boring days. But did you know that if you give goldfish enough space and resources, they may grow much larger than you think?
This is not a joke, but something that a British fishing enthusiast experienced firsthand in the bluewater lakes of Champagne in France. His name is Andy Hackett, and in November 2022 he caught a giant carp weighing 30.5 kilograms, which was brightly colored and resembled an oversized goldfish. Nicknamed "Carrot", this fish is a hybrid of a skin carp and a koi fish and is considered the second largest fish of its kind in the world.
Carrot was put into the lake 20 years ago by Bluewater Lake manager Jason Chowler as a way to spice up fishing customers. "It grows quickly, but it's not caught very often," Kauler said. It is very difficult to catch. Hackett also said he was completely lucky to catch the fish, and it took him 25 minutes to pull it ashore. "You feel like you need a big fish tank to hold it, and that's everyone's first reaction," he said. He then released the fish back into the lake and let it continue to grow.
So why do goldfish have so much potential? It turns out that goldfish and carp are both the same basic species, and their size and longevity are both affected by the environment. If goldfish are kept in small tanks, they will usually only grow to 1-2 inches, and no more than 6 inches at most. But if goldfish are kept in a pond or in the wild, they can grow up to 2-10 inches and weigh up to 5-9 pounds. Some goldfish can even grow up to 12-14 inches, like a "carrot".
This shows that goldfish are not a suitable fish as pets, and they need more space and more food to meet their growth needs.