Don't Dump Your Goldfish And Aquarium Plants Into Local Environment

“GOT AQUARIUM?”

Bloomington, Indiana - It’s almost that time of the year again…summer!

The City of Bloomington Environmental Commission offers warm congratulations to those of
you who are graduating this spring and an important reminder to graduates, continuing students,
and the public, alike.

It can be very harmful to our local environment to empty aquariums into natural or man-made
waterways - lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, storm sewer systems (this includes the sewer
system; i.e. toilets), etc.

Many aquarium plants and animals are non-native and can wreak havoc on our local
environment, leading to oxygen depletion, loss of native species and habitat conversion,
decreased enjoyment of natural areas by visitors, and expense, among other unfortunate
circumstances.

The infestation of our own Lake Griffy with Brazilian elodea, a popular non-native aquarium
plant commonly known as "anacharis", in the recent past is an unfortunate example of this
problem.

We are looking to be proactive and avoid a repeat.

It is our responsibility as stewards of our local environment to take necessary care to assure
unwanted plant and animal species do not become established in Bloomington.

If you must part with plant or animal species, first try to find a good home for them.

For more information, please contact the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter at (812) 349-3492
and/or the Monroe County Humane Association at (812) 335-9453.

And please, do not dump aquarium materials into drains or waterways and do not release any
organisms into the wild.

Thank you, and have a great summer!

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