500 goldfish looking for new homes

Looking to restock an outdoor pond? Does a favorite niece or nephew want their first pet? Need a last minute Valentine’s Day present on the cheap?

Look no further, because The Cultured Pearl owner Sue Wood is giving away 500 of the restaurant's famous goldfish.

During an interview Jan. 30, Wood said the fish range in size from 1 to 9 inches, and are free to a good home as long as they don’t become bait fish for other animals.

A sign announcing the giveaway is attached to the Rehoboth Avenue restaurant’s indoor pond. It says the only thing the fish need is a loving owner and about one gallon of water per 2 inches of fish.

“Please don’t put us in a tiny bowl. We love to swim!” reads the sign.

Wood said she put up the sign Jan. 27. Wood said she didn’t realize how many goldfish there were until she began to bring them inside so the roof-top pond could be drained and resealed. She said the pond was installed in 2007 and holds 15,000 gallons of water.

“It was 100 goldfish, then 200, then 300, then 400,” said Wood, shaking her head recalling the recognizance mission. “I figure we have 600.”

Wood said there were so many goldfish, that a few dozen of them survived for three days with no water after the pond was drained.

“We thought we got them all, then it rained one day, then another and another, and they came out of nowhere,” she said, showing off the survivors. “They must have gotten stuck in the grass, with just enough water until it rained. If we don’t get them out before breeding season, they’ll multiply again.”

The restaurant hasn’t always had so many goldfish. Wood said at one point, after a heron enjoyed its own version of sushi, the pond had 22 goldfish. Then they just multiplied, she said.

“I’m going to keep about 100 goldfish and all the koi,” said Wood, adding she’s keeping the goldfish inside and the koi outside. “The goldfish don’t breed inside.”

For more information, stop by the front desk of Cultured Pearl, 301 Rehoboth Ave., or call 302-227-8493.