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Wednesday, July 16, 2003

The cute and colorful fish portrayed in the wildly popular "Finding Nemo" movie seem to be on the verge of suffering the same fate as the Dalmatians and pugs depicted in other movies viewed by millions of children.

Kids who loved the movie now want to get their very own Nemo, Marlin and Dory.

Pet stores and aquatic dealers are being swamped with requests for clownfish and tangs, the fish that star in the Disney/Pixar movie.

Less-than-reputable breeders produced droves of Dalmatian and pug puppies to meet the demand created by hit movies. Shelters and rescue organizations are still feeling the fallout as once-loved puppies grow up and get dumped into the rescue network after parents discover that real live dogs are more work than expected.

Fish won't be dumped at shelters, but many will die due to improper care.

This was brought to my attention by Steven Pro, owner and operator of Pro Aquatic Services in Baldwin. He sets up and maintains aquariums for individuals and businesses.

He sent me a four-page tip sheet on how to care for your very own Nemo. I can't get into all of it here, but the bottom line is, you need to do your homework before buying any animal.

Saltwater tanks are complicated, and Nemo is much harder to care for than the goldfish children win at carnivals.

Pro suggests starting with nothing smaller than a 20-gallon tank.

"If your only goal is to keep two clownfishes, you are in luck as the initial investment will not be too great," he writes. "For this setup you are probably looking at just several hundred dollars."

Pro then lists more than 20 things needed for the startup tank, including 20 pounds of live sand, 30 pounds of live rock, a 100 watt submersible heater, dechlorinator, a gravel siphon and an algae pad/scraper.

And here, perhaps, is the most important tip of all: You cannot buy the fish, the tank and the equipment all on the same day. The tank must be set up for one to four weeks before you put fish in.

"You have to allow the live rock and sand time to fully cure and the tank time to cycle," Pro said. "This means giving the system time to develop the bacteria that will help to support the tank's inhabitants."

If none of this makes any sense to you, you're not ready to adopt your own little Nemo.

You might want to get a good book. Pro recommends "The New Marine Aquarium: Step-by-Step Setup and Stocking Guide" by Michael S. Paletta et al, published by T. F. H. Publications.

New and used copies are available on Amazon.com, where customers gave it a five-star rating.

Marlin and Nemo are clownfish, which Pro says are relatively easy to care for. But Dory is a tang, and they grow to be up to a foot long, Pro says. They also have a tendency to contract parasitic infections.

I ran this movie thing by Randy Goodlet of Upper St. Clair, the northeast director of American Marine Life Dealers Association, and operator of Aquatic Systems Consultants.

" 'Finding Nemo' was a cute movie and entertaining, but not as good as 'Shrek,' " Goodlet said. "Demand has skyrocketed for tangs and clownfish."

Goodlet agrees that clownfish are relatively easy keepers, and says they are bred in captivity, rather than captured in the wild. Tangs are difficult to keep, are not bred in captivity and have to be wild-caught.

One of the things that bugged Goodlet was the portrayal of the loving father in search of his son.

"Fish don't do any parenting at all," Goodlet said. "They lay eggs and they leave. They eat their young if they can."

The Marine Life Dealers have a Web site at http://www.amdareef.comas well as a list of knowledgeable dealers who are members.

The group supports conservation of reefs and other marine habitat and promotes environmentally responsible marine aquarium keeping.

The president of the group has written a letter to Pixar, expressing concerns about the effect the movie has had on the pet fish.

I looked at the Disney/Pixar site and saw no information about the proper care of pet fish. I did see plush Nemo toys and other movie-related clothes, games and toys. For most people, those items would be a better buy that the live fish.

Local dog on TV

If you look closely, you might see a local dog on an Animal Planet show.

At home in South Fayette, owner Kimberly C. Moore calls him Milo, but in dog show circles he is Champion Action Bestuvall Zodi Act Up. He's the No. 1, top-winning white bull terrier in the country at American Kennel Club shows.

Animal Planet filmed Milo and other dogs earlier this year at a big show in Harrisburg and interviewed his professional handler, Timothy Thomas of Slippery Rock. Milo won Best of Breed and placed fourth in the terrier group.

The show will air at the following dates and times: 8 and 11 p.m. today and 9 a.m. Sunday.

Milo, Moore and Thomas were in Pet Tales on April 23, and you can see that story on our Web site: http://www.post-gazette.com/pets

Pro can be reached at 412-327-3805 and Goodlet at 412-257-0696.