Thanks to NBC news for this:
A goldfish weighing 9 pounds came under the spotlight after being discovered recently during a fish population survey at Oak Grove Lake, park officials said.
Ty Houck, an official with Greenville County Parks, said the “massive” fish was found swimming on Nov. 16 in a 12-acre body of water in Oak Grove Lake Park in Greenville, South Carolina.
Greenville Rec, which oversees the park where the fish was discovered, posted a photo of the golden spectacle on Facebook on Monday.
Houck said he believes the giant goldfish is the only one swimming in the lake because park officials did not encounter any others in their survey.
He added that while the goldfish is non-native to South Carolina, it was not considered an invasive species to the lake.
The average lifespan of goldfish is between 6-7 years, while those found in the wild can live up to 30 years, according to the United States Geological Survey.
As for the goldfish’s current whereabouts, Houck said he placed the fish back in the water after snapping a photo of the large creature.
They were doing Electrofishing, which is a common scientific survey method used to sample fish populations to determine abundance, density, and species composition. When performed correctly, electrofishing results in no permanent harm to fish, which return to their natural state in as little as two minutes after being caught.
