RSPCA news
www.rspca.org.uk
Office: 0300 123 0244/0288
Wednesday 11 May, 2016
Something fishy! RSPCA expecting
spike in number of ‘forgotten fish’
RSPCA bracing itself for influx of unwanted fish after release of Finding Dory
Goldfish are often a child’s first pet but are soon referred to as the forgotten pet as many
are neglected and cast aside.
Over the last five years the RSPCA has collected almost 10,000 fish following calls from
members of the public about their welfare and is expecting further unwanted and neglected fish
to come into its care following the
release of Finding Dory.
Now the animal welfare charity is
trying to help owners care for their
fishy friends by giving advice and
guidance on what they need to be
happy and healthy.
Alexandra Jones, RSPCA exotics
scientific officer, said: “Fish particularly goldfish - are often
seen as an easy first pet for
children however it is still really
important they are cared for
properly and the conditions they
live in are a vital part of that. They
need regular routine care and have
very specific needs.
“A common misconception with
goldfish is the age and size they
can reach. Lots of people think
goldfish live for about five years
and generally grow to about 12 cm
in length. The fact is they're known
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RSPCA news
www.rspca.org.uk
Office: 0300 123 0244/0288
to live for over 25 years and some can reach over 30 cm!
“Fish can be challenging to keep. They can't show their feelings as clearly as mammals do and
meeting their complex biological, environmental and behavioural needs takes a great deal of
preparation, investment, time and care.
“Sadly many owners who buy exotic pets on
impulse after seeing a film or TV show don‟t
find out how to care for the animals first.
When they then realise how much space
and care the animal requires they can lose
interest, or feel unable to care for them
anymore. As a result exotic pets are often
abandoned, given up to animal rescue
centres or released into the wild.
“Many people bought clown fish after the
release of Finding Nemo in 2003 which led
to a large number of fish being neglected or
dumped when they grew too large or were more difficult to look after than expected. We are
bracing ourselves for a similar trend once again.
“We want to help fish owners make sure they are providing a happy and healthy environment for
their fish to thrive so have published these care sheets so everyone has easy access to
important information.”
The RSPCA is also promoting the Big Fish Campaign, an initiative to reduce the amount of
large fish being given up for adoption when they outgrow the owner‟s tank. Such „tank busting‟
fish include red-tailed catfish, giant gouramis and certain species of pleco catfish. Many of these
fish end up being given up to public aquariums because owner did not fully research these fish
and so may have been unaware of their adult size.
Anyone who would like extra information on how to care for a pet fish should visit
www.rspca.org.uk/fish.
Ends
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RSPCA news
www.rspca.org.uk
Office: 0300 123 0244/0288
Number of calls to the RSPCA cruelty line spiked in 2004, after the release of Finding Nemo.
Movie mania around exotic pets http://blogs.rspca.org.uk/insights/2014/10/17/resisting-the-t-u-r-t-l-e-power/#.VzGW9IQrJxA
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RSPCA
Southwater
West Sussex
RH13 9XH
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Duty press officer (evenings and
weekends)
07825 158490