Sent A Complain To Bbc And Rspca Regarding Animal 24:7

[Ben M]

i haven't seen it yet, but i'll watch it, and then probably complain too. it really annoys me when people give wrong advise.

cheers

 

[Shred]

Good grief, they should receive complaints for his puns alone!!

Haha I was thinking the same!

Thanks for that nice long, structured and constructive reply there.

clear -> colourless?

Thanks for that nice long, structured and constructive reply there.

 

[Ben M]

just watched, the woman obviously didn't know what she was on about. i think that we should make an email that everyone can copy, and send to them.

cheers

 

[meguro]

Thanks for that nice long, structured and constructive reply there.

u mad?

 

[Curiosity101]

Well anyone is welcome to adapt what I sent or even just copy and paste if you want. And yes sending one those generic e-mails isn't a bad idea. So long as someone is willing to write it.
Oh btw I added to the Rspca message that I didn't expect them to know about every fish but they should know the basics about goldfish care, the nitrogen cycle and the inch per gal rule. I explained the flaws associated with the rule, but also explained that a guide as simple as that could really avoid unnecessary suffering and death.

 

[Assaye]

Just watched it . . .

I'm not shocked, as I kind of expected it to be treated as flippantly and with as little knowledge as it was.

I'm writing something up now.

 

[Assaye]

In this episode an RSPCA officer and presenter investigated a claim that goldfish were being kept in a toilet cistern.

The topic of fish welfare was treated lightly with repeated use of puns and the presenter even asked if the RSPCA treated fish welfare as seriously as other animal welfare. The RSPCA officer replied that fish had protection of sorts, implying that they did not deserve or require the full protections against ill treatment and sub-standard care that other animals recieve.

The fish were shown to the RSPCA officer and TV crew, and the RSPCA officer commented that she had no concerns about the welfare of the animals. Having been told that the owner had kept the fish for 7 months she stated that 7 months was a long time for fish (particularly goldfish) to live and this showed they were happy in their environment.

However, this could not be further from the truth. Goldfish (especially common and comet goldfish, as those shown were) have a natural lifespan of between 20 and 30 years, with exceptional specimens living into their 40s. They are also a fast growing fish that reaches adult lengths of over 12 inches long and as a result need very large fish tanks. They produce a huge level of organic waste for their size and as a result require a very high standard of filtration.

The goldfish shown were in a tank that cannot have been over 20 gallons. From the appearance of the tank, it was probably much less - somewhere in the region of 10 to 15 gallons. It was also barely 2 foot long and it is apparent to anyone that a 12 inch goldfish will not be happy living in a 24 inch fish tank!
Goldfish complete most of their growing within the first year of their life and so after 7 months, one would expect a goldfish to have reached around 6-8 inches (which these clearly had not).

Small tanks stunt the growth of goldfish and severely impact upon their lifespan. The short lifespan of many pet golfish is not due to the fact that the species is short lived but due to a lack of knowledge and poor care by the owner.

In order to accommodate these large fish in an indoor aquarium one would need to keep them in a tank of around 40 gallons simply to avoid stunting their growth, and an even larger tank would be necessary to allow them to thrive and live a full and stimulating life.

It is shocking to see an RSPCA officer (presented as an animal expert) and a TV presenter who specialises in animal welfare shows to be perpetrating the damaging myths that these large and long lived fish do not need a high standard of care and that they have short lifespans. It is also shocking to see the issue of fish welfare being treated so flippantly by the presenter.

If it had been a cat or dog being kept in a small box or kennel with no walks or chances to stretch it's legs, the attitude would have been very different. The fact that fish are difficult to understand and relate to should not entail that they are given a poorer standard of care than larger, more "cuddly" animals. Fish die every day because of these damaging misconceptions.

I will also be sending a copy of this letter to the RSPCA.

I'm tired but I hope I got my point across. At the beginning of Feb I made a complaint about the use of dyed parrot fish in Hustle and I've not heard back from them, so I don't hold much hope.

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm so glad I'm not the only person who noticed the dyed parrot fish in hustle! Not only that but weren't they in with mbuna! I mean I get they would only have been in that tank for a matter of hours whilst the program was being filmed (or at least I hope that's the case), but still!

And your e-mail looks fine.

 

[bae1994]

i noticed the parrots aswell aslo noticed the series before they had like 100 koi carp in there


theres also a advert curently showing were it flashes on to the kid and theres like a big orange fish in a rio 180


(spelling edit)

 

[ian]

^^i have seen that one, it looks like a Sev, its the ad about kids doing drugs and alcohol.

 

[coldcazzie]

I also cringed when I watched that episode of Animal 24:7. Maybe a likening should be drawn to the previous episode (or was it earlier in the same episode) where a staffy pup was being kept locked in a cupboard under the stairs - clearly not a suitable environment.

I agree that she shouldn't seize the fish, and I did quite like the effect, but perpetuating the myths that a 7 month goldfish is essentially an OAP and that if the tank looks clean then it's suitable for the fish is just not on.

 

[Assaye]

Oh, has anyone seen the recent series of Come Dine With Me? One of the male contestants had a disgustingly green 21 litre Marina Elite tank with two or three comets in it. EUCH! If that was a puppy in a bread-box they wouldn't have filmed, but it's OK to have fish suffering, right?

 

[Curiosity101]

Of course it is. No one knows any better (or cares to put the effort in to debate whether it is good or bad), and fish can't complain...

 

[WILDER]

I used to watch animal 24/7.
But stopped watching it as it upsetting.

 

[Shred]

I watched Rocky last night, he has a goldfish in a one gallon bowl! I'm going to write to Sylvester Stallone.