Giant goldfish 'simply amazing'

A marine biologist has described a Kent goldfish which is over a foot long as "simply amazing".

Widow Ada Shaw, 83, from Folkestone, bought Goldie for 99p 15 years ago, when he was just an inch long.

The fish is now 1ft 3in (38cm) long, 5in (12cm) high, and weighs over 2lb (0.9kg).

Darren Gook, marine biologist at Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre, said: "I have never heard of any goldfish to grow to this size."

Some claim Goldie is the largest goldfish in Britain, and the second largest in the world, behind a 1ft 7in (48cm) fish located in the Netherlands.

'Just incredible'

But Dick Mills, secretary of the Federation of British Aquatic Societies (FBAS), said Goldie's size was "not that unusual".

"I would think there are probably a few bigger goldfish that people don't think of as record holders, perhaps in ornamental lakes.

"Goldfish are very long lived animals and consequently if they're in the right environment they will get large."

Frances Marchall, a friend of Ms Shaw, said: "I just think Goldie is incredible. I don't understand how he could have got so big in the tank that he's in."

Ms Shaw said: "I feed Goldie at 10 o'clock in the morning and again at 10 o'clock at night, but I have no idea how he got so big."

"I give him a little bit more if I think he's looking for some, even though I shouldn't, but he hasn't suffered for it has he?"

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre
Federation of British Aquatic Societies
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