You bought a house. As part of the landscaping, it has a Koi pond in the back yard. It’s nice and all, but you’re really not that interested in taking care of the Koi and you’ve got small kids that are going to use it alternatively as a swimming pool. Not good.
So, what are you going to do with these fish? And then what are you going to do with the resulting hole that’s left over once you’re done with the water feature?
I know this might seem odd, but I’ve had a handful of people ask me about this exact issue. We get close to the closing and they say “Can we ask the owner to take their fish with them?” This is a delicate subject because the home owner is typically very proud of their Koi pond and see it as a selling feature for the house. What the buyers typically see it as is a headache. And unfortunately the seller’s next accommodations usually aren’t equipped for the fish. The little finned friends stay, much to the dismay of the buyers.
My recommendation for getting rid of the fish, and really anything house-related that you don’t want, is to post it for free on Craigslist. Or Freecycle. Time and again, someone will reply and come get whatever it is that you don’t want. Swing sets. Used furniture. Old windows. Extra scrap wood. Even fish. You know the saying, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” It certainly holds true.
And what about the hole that’s left after the Koi pond is gone? Turn it into a sandbox. Or go to Craigslist or Freecycle and look for someone looking to get rid of fill. Continue the reuse cycle!
And please, don’t flush the fish down the toilet or leave them outside without the heater on so they freeze. That’s just cruel and unnecessary. There are plenty of people out there that will take your stuff.