The average goldfish, when kept in small aquariums, grows no more than two inches long, but city officials of Burnsville, Minnesota are pulling some out of a nearby lake that are the size of a football.
The giant goldfish were once pets of locals, but were released into Keller Lake where they had enough room and food sources to continuing growing.
Although dropping a small goldfish into a nearby lake may seem harmless, when these underwater creatures grow larger they disrupt the ecosystem.
'Please don't release your pet goldfish into ponds and lakes!' the city tweeted.
'They grow bigger than you think and contribute to poor water quality by mucking up the bottom sediments and uprooting plants.'
Scroll down for video
The average goldfish, when kept in small aquariums, grows no more than two inches long, but city officials of Burnsville, Minnesota are pulling some out of a nearby lake that are the size of a football
Most people get a goldfish from a pet store or as a carnival prize where the fish is kept in a small tank or bowl, limiting how much it can grow.
However, these domestic fish will keep growing in the wild just as long as water temperatures and food sources support it.
'Instead of releasing your pet goldfish in a local lake or pond, please consider other options for finding them a new home like asking a responsible friend or neighbor to care for it,' reads the Facebook post from the city of Burnsville.
Burnsville, which is about 15 minutes south of Minneapolis, began surveying the lake's goldfish population after residents complained of a possible infestation, the Washington Post reports.
The giant goldfish were once pets of locals, but were released into Keller Lake where they had enough room and food sources to continuing growing
Working with the company Carp Solutions, a firm that controls water
