Pet Catfish Too Big: Naive Owner "Caught It and Threw It Back into the Sea", Immediately Regrets with a Painful Scream

Beyond the concept of adopting instead of buying, the most important aspect of pet ownership is the lifelong commitment to them. From the day a pet joins your life, the owner should take full responsibility for their care, ensuring companionship throughout their brief lives. However, a naive owner recently attempted to "release" his pet catfish, only to regret it immediately after throwing it into the sea.

A TikTok user named Ryan Izquierdo shared a video documenting his experience of releasing his pet catfish named Bubbles. In the video, Ryan explained that Bubbles had grown too large for her aquarium, prompting him to take her to open waters for release. He scooped Bubbles out of the tank and tossed her into the ocean, saying, "Goodbye, Bubbles!" Unfortunately, as soon as Bubbles hit the water, she was quickly attacked by larger fish and swallowed whole.

Ryan's horrified screams off-camera—"Oh my God! No!"—highlighted the tragic outcome of his decision. The video has garnered over 80 million views on TikTok, with nearly 90,000 comments expressing shock and concern: "Did we just witness a murder scene?" and "Poor Bubbles." Many commenters criticized Ryan's actions, with one remarking, "No one pointed out that you put Bubbles in saltwater when she is actually a freshwater fish."

According to Wikipedia, catfish are found on all continents except Antarctica, mostly in freshwater environments. In Taiwan, catfish (Silurus asotus) inhabit rivers and ponds in the western and southern regions but have seen a decline in wild populations. They thrive in estuaries and freshwater habitats as bottom-dwelling fish. Recklessly releasing pets can lead to tragedies like Bubbles', but some resilient pets may thrive after being abandoned, growing several times their original size. This is not beneficial; such pets become predators in their new ecosystems.

What seems like a harmless and fragile pet can turn into a formidable presence in the wild—like a small goldfish from an aquarium! Reports indicate that if pet goldfish are carelessly released into open waters, they can disrupt natural environments and trigger ecological disasters. Once outside their small tanks, goldfish can grow up to 2 feet (approximately 61 cm) long. They consume insects and tadpoles voraciously, outcompeting native species and threatening biodiversity.

People often mistakenly believe that releasing goldfish is humane; however, it can lead to significant ecological changes. Dr. James Dickey from Queen’s University Belfast states that their research found goldfish pose a triple threat: they are easily accessible, have voracious appetites, and exhibit bold behavior. While Nordic climates are harsh for non-native species, goldfish manage to survive.

Dr. Dickey explains that compared to native species, pet goldfish are greedy and bold in their behavior. Thus, once they enter wild rivers and lakes, they consume food sources essential for other fish's survival, leading to declines in native populations and reduced biodiversity. Furthermore, goldfish can disturb sediment at the bottom of water bodies and uproot aquatic plants, degrading water quality.

To prevent goldfish from becoming environmental destroyers in the wild, it is crucial to limit their availability in markets and educate owners against irresponsible abandonment or release practices.

Have you ever owned a pet goldfish?