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Health Giant goldfish in Niagara River a reminder not to flush pets Wednesday, June 19th 2019, 4:05 pm - Goldfish do most of their growing in the summer.

Experts say a giant goldfish pulled from the Niagara River earlier this month serves as a reminder to properly dispose of unwanted pets.

The fish is 35-centimetres long, according to Buffalo Niagara's Waterkeeper.

"This is why you should never flush your fish!" The organization says in a Twitter post.

"This 14-inch goldfish was caught in the Niagara River, just downstream of the wastewater treatment plant. If you cannot keep your pet, please return it to the store instead of flushing or releasing it."

DON'T FLUSH THE FISH

Officials in both Canada and the U.S. have been warning people not to flush their pet goldfish for years. In many parts of North America, they have no known predators and can quickly overwhelm an ecosystem.

Discarded goldfish have been known to grow to the size of a football or larger. They start out small in a household tank but can balloon in size under the right conditions.

Goldfish do most of their growing -- and cause the most damage -- during the summer months.

According to Ontario's Invading Awareness Program, the fish stir up mud and debris when they feed, resulting in cloudiness that can have a negative impact on aquatic plants.

Flushing dead fish can introduce parasites or diseases into an ecosystem, especially in areas where water treatment systems are lacking.

VIDEO: GIANT GOLDFISH CLOGGING CANADA'S WATERWAYS | JUNE 2015