The story of the 8-year-old Pennsylvania boy who caught a red-bellied piranha in a Delaware County lake made national headlines and is a sad reminder that the commonwealth has a problem with improperly surrendered aquatic pets.

For many years, I have seen the same three nonindigenous carp swimming in the Little Conestoga Creek. They are possibly dumped pets or escapees from a flooded koi pond at one of the large houses that border the river.

These fish are thriving, though they shouldn’t be there. This is the same river where another piranha was caught in September 1990, according to the Intelligencer Journal archives.

The most recent piranha, which was “humanely” disposed of, would not have survived a Pennsylvania winter when water temperatures drop below 50 degrees.

Because you can buy these Amazonian fish online, it makes it very easy for people to buy pets that they’re unprepared to care for. There are more humane options for exotic fish owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. Places such as Pet Pantry of Lancaster County, Humane Pennsylvania and That Fish Place can offer guidance on where fish can be surrendered.

As a person who enjoys the natural waters of Pennsylvania and as a fishing license holder, I implore my fellow citizens to surrender their aquatic pets properly and report any unusual or exotic fish sightings to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

Robb Delaney

East Hempfield Township

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