How the movie "Finding Nemo" influenced the saltwater-aquarium/reef trade?

4016 Views 22 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Anglefish12, Mar 23, 2012

Anglefish12

Discussion Starter · Mar 21, 2012

I am not sure where to put this topic so I decided to put it here because I've noticed a lot of peoples opinions on the movie. If it should be moved feel free to! I'm a newbie.

I've noticed on reef and saltwater-aquarist forums that some bad comments have been made about how the movie "Finding Nemo" influenced the saltwater/reef aquarium trade. I do realize that the movie did cause a high demand for clownfish and anemones which was not beneficial for wild reef life but yet I think the movie did have some sort of purpose teaching people about the values of a wild eco-system and how fish may "feel" while they are in a tank. I personally love the movie.

However this brought attention to reef tanks which caused many people to want one. I heard a friend say that she wanted to keep a few "Dori-fish" (aka Hippo Tangs) in a fish bowl. I admit that clownfish are my favorite fish out there and that Finding Nemo was a big part of it. What's your opinion on "Finding Nemo?" I'm really curious to know from some experienced, long time, and successful reef-keepers themselves.

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Superelephant36

· #2 · Mar 21, 2012

the mover e was directed towards kids, I personly think it got kids interested in saltwater fish

Nate_Bro

· #3 · Mar 21, 2012

I think these movies have a bad impact when they first come out. just like when 101 dalmatians came out all the kids wanted them, but after so many months the shelters got overrun with them. its gets the "fad" people all fired up, fast and hard, and most of the time the fad dies just as hard and fast as it started.

I think it will have a long term affect on the hobby, but LFS just have to be smart about how they handle customers that want things like 3 tangs in a fish bowl...

Raeloni

· #4 · Mar 21, 2012

people are going to be people. there will always be people who don't research and sadly the animals are the ones who will suffer. As well as there are people who love research. I think the movies benefit in the long run with teaching kids some good things and get them thinking outside the box. people just need to research, research, research.

jamesbooth66

· #5 · Mar 21, 2012

movie was good and bad it got more ppl into this hobby wich made it alot more popular but the bad thing about that is that ppl wont read into how it should be done and do things like keeping hippo tangs in bowls etc good movie for kids but the attention has died down....unless they make a finding nemo 2 lol

helenwheels

· #6 · Mar 22, 2012

The movie was charming, but I am appalled at the parents who give in to their requests for "Nemo" or "Dory" without research. If my child wanted a SW tank, I would make them study what I takes... I get very sad when I visit a fish store that has a whole tank dedicated to the fish in "Nemo".

I have a sweet retarded 12 year old chihuahua who was abandoned during the chihuahua craze by a puppy mill for being to ugly to sell. Generally I dislike the breed, but I put in the time to keep him alive, socialize him, and make sure he was raised as a dog, not an accessory. (yes, I have a pink alligator dog purse for when his knees go out... ) I also rescued a Dane when they were being abandoned after "marmaduke.

Anyway... Yes, I agree that Nemo has caused harm to many fish, but it was not the movie to blame, it's overindulgent parents.

trivia: "Nemo" is a Latin for "no one"

Nate_Bro

· #7 · Mar 22, 2012

Who are you?

No one....

Treasures of the Sea

· #8 · Mar 22, 2012

Only thing I can say. I HATE going to the LFS and everyone that walks through the door points at a Clown and says Look Nemo...

Anglefish12

Discussion Starter · #9 · Mar 22, 2012

That reminds me, I was picking out my first saltwater clownfish at age elven and I felt really fish-knowledgeable compared to some adults asking people if clownfish could live with their goldfish-TRUE STORY! I actually kept a two gallon with some fish (two little firefish and snails, shrimp, etc-I moved the firefish to a bigger tank soon) when I was eleven for a year and a half. I've been asked countless times by my friends about seahorses and clownfish-and how they can have their own tank. And LFS employees have told me I'd be surprised by some people wanting "nemos"...

helenwheels

· #10 · Mar 22, 2012

Treasures of the Sea said:
Only thing I can say. I HATE going to the LFS and everyone that walks through the door points at a Clown and says Look Nemo...

I explain that my clowns are not "Nemo" , they are Jack and Meg... Because they have White Stripes. (Indie Rock pun)

indiechixor

· #11 · Mar 22, 2012

helenwheels said:
I explain that my clowns are not "Nemo" , they are Jack and Meg... Because they have White Stripes. (Indie Rock pun)

I get it

Nate_Bro

· #12 · Mar 22, 2012

thats how my tank is every time a kid comes over to my house, "hey theres Nemo", and of course their parents ask them, where is the other nemo....

My son, he is 2.5 years old, calls all my fish by the common names, except the goby, it has too many common names so we just call it brown fish... I also made him start calling the cleaner wrasse, "blue fish" for some reason he can get the "clean" part, but leaves out the "wr" part, so "clean wrasse" without the "wr" :doh:

Treasures of the Sea

· #13 · Mar 22, 2012

helenwheels said:
I explain that my clowns are not "Nemo" , they are Jack and Meg... Because they have White Stripes. (Indie Rock pun)

:beer:

Nate_Bro said:
thats how my tank is every time a kid comes over to my house, "hey theres Nemo", and of course their parents ask them, where is the other nemo....

My son, he is 2.5 years old, calls all my fish by the common names, except the goby, it has too many common names so we just call it brown fish... I also made him start calling the cleaner wrasse, "blue fish" for some reason he can get the "clean" part, but leaves out the "wr" part, so "clean wrasse" without the "wr" :doh:

LMAO...

Shane the Reef Geek

· #14 · Mar 22, 2012

That's funny nate. My kid had those moments during Christmas time. He'd point at every house with lights on it and say "Pretty!" but the "pr" was a "t". :arg:

Back on subject. I love the movie and so do my kids, but they know that you can't have all those fish in a tank that size, nor do you use laser guided HOB filters, plastic plants, or bubbly volcanoes. I also do not let them call the clownfish in the LFS "Nemo."

In regards to this movie, or any other thing for that matter, parents should remember to teach responsibility.

derpinherpin

· #15 · Mar 23, 2012

Treasures of the Sea said:
Only thing I can say. I HATE going to the LFS and everyone that walks through the door points at a Clown and says Look Nemo...

Literally my headache inducing experience EVERY time i'm at the LFS.

jberd

· #16 · Mar 23, 2012

IMO it was a great kid movie and just that. The sad part is it is not the kids at fault. It is the parents without common sense that have to keep up with the Jones's and do not do any research as others have stated, that is the problem. All the kid is doing is being a kid and say I want that just like he/she wants candy or anything else they see. Again Just my opinion. Love the movie. Have a 2 1/2 year old that loves it as well.

jberd

· #17 · Mar 23, 2012

Nate that is awesome. I have to get me one of those cleaner wrasse's minus the wr.

chadaspencer

· #18 · Mar 23, 2012

I'll admit that it was actually my wife that got me into the SW tank hobby, and it was Nemo that got her into wanting a SW tank. At first we had Nemo and Dory, but soon learned that blue hippos can't survive in a 30 gal. She still has her "Nemo" and I have what I call a "Nemo la Negra" but they are in my 55 gal. along with my Goby, Blennie, (Wr)asse, (lol) etc... SOoo... I'm glad the movie came out and I'm glad she wanted a "Nemo" cause I'm hooked on this SW tank and even though I have a couple clowns... I'm more determined to explore the numerous variety of other SW life and have even started with corals. All are doing well.

(Also... another "Dory" may be in the works but only after I double my tank size somewhere down the road.

)

(pics available in album)

Invic

· #19 · Mar 23, 2012

I think the worst part for me was I have always loved clown fish, and really liked Hippo Tangs. Then Nemo came out. Then later I started a SW tank up. Now I get "So you like Nemo" when asked what fish I like.

I like Clowns for their ingenuity of hosting and evolution to adjust to stings of many types. Also that they work as a pair and stay together. Hippo's just love the color and the clean lines of the fish. Not Nemo.....well okay I enjoyed the movie and like it lol.

Actually do not own a Hippo for tank size limitations. Even when I upgrade soon, I still won't get one because, the day I do its going to be large enough I will get one. Probably be 200g ++ as I like to see them swim and not hair pin turn to go back the other way.

Doug1

· #20 · Mar 23, 2012

I loved the movie, I took the grandkids I had at the time to see it. They had already be exposed to my reef tank so it was a dual win for them. i actually have like 2 sets of the Nemo toys from Happy Meals in the kids tub time toy box.
but yes it was bad for the livestock though a windfall for fish shops.
The post about kids using fish names reminds me, when my son was 4 we went to the fish store I shopped at, The owner greets us and my son says its my burfday , I have money for a fish. Now picture the store owner, he is like 6'5" tall so he bends down to negotiate with my kid. "Well do you want a goldfish or a betta?" Heck no the lad replies I want a bristlenose plecostomus very distinctly. Owner about falls over, laughing and says, I wonder where he gets that from

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

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