Exclusive | Bed-Stuy aquarium returns and reignites fish abuse concerns as NYC sizzles during heatwave: It will be a painful death

This could turn into a Bed-Stuy fish fry.A viral sidewalk “aquarium” that won over the Big Apple last summer has reemerged, The Post has learned – and animal advocates are already sweating in fear that the little swimmers will sizzle in this heat wave.A glass tank of about a dozen goldfish was planted in a tree pit Saturday, an aquarium caretaker told The Post, next to the pond’s original site — a founder was sentenced to 12 years in prison on unrelated attempted murder charges in January — a now-filled in water hydrant puddle near Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street.But animal advocates say it isn’t just fishy – it’s downright cruel, especially with New York under a state of emergency thanks to a record-breaking scorcher that is set to bring Gotham to a boil this week. “This project continues to be an inappropriate way to house fish,” veterinarian Benjamin Rosenbloom, founder of New York City-based Wet Pet Vet, told The Post.“I suspect on some level it may be a grift for donations and/or attention.

“At the very least, it is not acceptable for the welfare of the animals housed there.”Since the makeshift aquarium is so small, Rosenbloom said exposure to the sun could elevate water temperatures to deadly levels — resulting in less available dissolved oxygen for the fish.“In this current heatwave they most certainly will die.It will be a painful death,” said Kathy Nizzari, founder of the animal welfare group Lights Out Coalition.

The group is urging the pond’s caretakers to move the fish “indoors” to create a “proper environment.”John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, called the confinement — heat wave or not — “cruel” and “teaches children all the wrong lessons.”But the pond’s co-founder, Je-Quan Irving, maintains the “community is backing us,” and said he has no plans of slowing down — despite the allegations.“I’m just happy they wanted us to keep pushing through and have it co...