Sir, – Finding Dory, the sequel to the smash hit Finding Nemo, may leave viewers tempted to purchase a "Dory" (ie, a blue tang fish) for themselves – but these fish belong in the ocean, not in a tank.
The novelty of a fish bought on a whim fades quickly, and many parents learned their lesson after the first film, when the goldfish they rushed out to buy to satisfy their kids' pleas ended up flushed down the loo or abandoned at a shelter. The RSPCA reportedly had to deal with almost 10,000 surrendered fish in the months following the Nemo craze. Fish aren't "low maintenance". They need far more than just a few millimetres of water. Bowls have to be routinely cleaned – a chore most children dodge very quickly – and the water's temperature needs to be carefully monitored. Fish also need sunlight, and like Dory and Nemo, they need the company of other fish, too. Cared for properly, blue tang fish can live for more than 20 years – long after the kids have moved out. Go enjoy Finding Dory. But leave fish in the oceans, where they belong.
– Yours, etc,
JENNIFER WHITE
People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals,
London.