Over a hundred goldfish are in a makeshift “pond” at Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street in Bed-Stuy.
Photo by Lloyd Mitchell
Bikini Bottom has come to Bed-Stuy and not everyone is happy.
About two weeks ago, a fire hydrant at the corner of Hancock Street and Tompkins Avenue began to leak, filling a hole in the sidewalk with several inches of water. That’s not unusual in New York City—but what happened next was.
A handful of long-time residents decided to convert the water-filled pit into a makeshift goldfish pond. They dismantled the pit, bought about 100 small goldfish and I unloaded them along with some colorful stones and decorations.
Photos and videos of the makeshift pond circulated online and locally, drawing both praise and criticism.
In a Reddit A neighbor concerned about the welfare of the fish said in a post that they tried to save some but got into an argument with one of the pond builders.
“At best, these fish will be washed down a sewer by a rainstorm and become an invasive species in a body of water,” the poster says. “At worst, they will suffocate in their own waste, have their gills burned by chlorine, be sick, overcrowded and stressed. The temperature fluctuations alone in such a shallow puddle could kill them.”
Days later, the poster appeared – 29-year-old Emily Campbell, according to New York Times – made their way to the intersection after dark and collected about two dozen fish into containers to be delivered to a fish rescue station.
The incident sparked tension in the neighborhood. Jequan Irving, one of the organizers of the pond, now called Gavs Fish Pond, said the fish are fed several times a week and the group plans to put lights and plants in the pit. After Campbell’s rescue attempt, Irving and other members of the group watch the fish throughout the day.
“We are here to keep the peace and quiet,” a group member told the Brooklyn Paper during a visit on August 13. “If we can’t raise enough money, we plan to give the goldfish to the children in the neighborhood.”
The group has launched a GoFundMe campaign to “help build a better living space,” including “an outdoor ventilation system for it so that it can survive all year round and the community can continue to enjoy the beauty of nature.”
Even ordinary goldfish require up to 20 gallons of water per fish, plus filters and air pumps, according to PetMDand should not live in untreated tap water. Although they are considered cold-water fish, their ideal temperature is still above 25 degrees.
As of August 14, donors had contributed more than $1,300 to the online fundraiser, which has a goal of $2,500.
The fish have attracted visitors from across the neighborhood and across Brooklyn – many of whom have expressed their support for the “pond.”
“I love it,” said Caleb Lind. “It’s the combination of artificial and natural. I’m totally into animals. I want to know what they eat.”
Another neighbor, Pam Smith, said it was “so unique.”
“It’s reassuring for a place like Bed-Stuy, where people are constantly on the move,” she said.
But others, including city officials, are not convinced.
The city’s environmental protection agency has turned off the leaky hydrant “several times” since learning about it last week, a spokesman for the agency said. But people keep turning it on – and have prevented the agency’s emergency crews from working in the area.
“It is imperative that our DEP response team be allowed to repair the hydrant,” said Beth DeFalco, DEP deputy commissioner for public affairs and communications. “Damaged or leaking hydrants are real safety concerns. They can affect water availability in the event of a fire, impact water pressure and cause utility problems in the neighborhood. We love goldfish too, but we know there is a better home for them than on a sidewalk.”
Unusual animals unsuited to Brooklyn conditions are not uncommon—Prospect Park is home to a large population of invasive turtles, many of which were abandoned by owners who didn’t know what they were getting into when they adopted the reptiles. Another reptile, an alligator named Godzilla, died last year after being abandoned in the park along with the turtles—also likely by a careless owner.
