Be a responsible pet fish owner
Exotic fish can live for decades and grow much larger than expected. When released into the wild, they harm native plants, fish, and water quality. Keep your fish in their tank and rehome them properly – never release them into the wild.
Care for your pet and our environment
When you care for your fish properly, you help protect Auckland's waterways and keep our streams healthy for native fish and other wildlife. This means future generations can enjoy our unique native animals. Here are some actions you can take to protect your pet and our environment:
Check before you buy
Before bringing one home, research whether your chosen species is classified as a pest in Auckland, as some pose a serious threat to our native fish populations and cannot legally be bred or sold – check on our Pest Search by selecting 'fish'.
Plan before you buy
Before you get a pet fish, learn about what it needs. Many people think goldfish are easy pets, but they're not. Goldfish can live for over 10 years and grow as big as a dinner plate. Make sure you can give them a large enough tank, clean water and proper care for their whole life.
Keep them secure
Never release your fish into streams, rivers, lakes or ponds – not even small private ponds. Once there, they spread easily to other waterways. If you have an outdoor pond, make sure your fish can’t escape when it rains heavily or the pond overflows.
Rehome responsibly
- If you cannot look after your fish anymore, find them a new home properly. You may be able to:
- give them to another fish owner
- take them back to the pet shop
- contact a fish rescue group
Check your species can be legally sold, bred, given away, or moved
There are some species like goldfish are classified as pests in Auckland. Check our Pest Search tool to learn what the rules are if you own one of these pest species.
Who can help rehome your fish
Contact any of these groups if you need to find a new home for your fish:
Auckland Fish Rescue
Helps find new homes for pet fish
Facebook page
Be Kind Exotic Animal Rescue
Helps with reptiles, amphibians, parrots, and fish
Phone: 028 416 7498
Facebook page
North Shore Turtle, Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Rescue
Assists with both turtles and lizards
Phone: 021 035 2881
Facebook page
9 Lives Orphanage
Can help cats, some birds and reptiles
9 Lives website
For more information about exotic fish and how to manage them
Contact us:
- Email: pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
- Phone: 09 301 0101
Why releasing your pet fish is harmful
Unsafe for your fish
You might think your pet fish would love to swim in a big stream or pond but releasing them could be an animal welfare issue. Many released pets get sick, injured or eaten by predators. Pet fish are not made to survive in the wild because they are used to being fed every day and living in a tank.
Environmental impacts
When goldfish and other pet fish get into our streams and ponds, they can also become a serious problem in our environment. This is because they:
- breed fast: even one fish can quickly become hundreds and once established in our waterways they’re hard to remove.
- make water dirty: fish can stir up mud at the bottom of streams and ponds. This makes the water cloudy and unhealthy for other water life.
- destroy homes for native animals: pet fish pull up water plants that our native fish and insects need to live.
- take food and space from native fish: exotic fish make it even harder for our native fish to survive by eating their food and taking over their homes.
- spread disease: exotic fish can carry illnesses that kill our native fish.
