'NEMO' MANIA DISNEY MOVIE SPAWNS RUSH TO BUY CLOWNFISH FOR HOME AQUARIUMS.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Pet stores have been swimming in customers since a cute little clownfish named Nemo hit the theaters, netting more than $200 million at the box office while spawning increased aquarium-fish sales.

``A lot of people have come in asking for Nemos and Dorys,'' said Dania Rivas of SeaScapes in Newhall, referring to the clownfish and blue tang fish that star in the animated film, ``Finding Nemo.''

Much like the surge in interest in adoptions of Dalmatian puppies after Disney's ``101 Dalmatians'' series, families are rushing to pet stores to get the new pet sensation.

SeaScapes recently ordered 40 more of the bright orange-and-white striped clownfish to keep up with demand, Rivas said.

But parents eager to please their children are finding out that a Nemo of their own is a little more complicated than bringing home a goldfish from a carnival.

``Since they are saltwater fish, we make sure they have a saltwater tank,'' said Nancy Gomar, a manager at Petco in Saugus. ``Saltwater tanks are more expensive because of the detailed equipment and upkeep. It's not a fish for beginners.''

Setup expenses average $200 for a fully equipped 30-gallon tank. Prices of clownfish and tangs range from $11 to $30 each, depending on the size, making the initial investment as much as $300.

``It's usually not the animal that costs a lot,'' Gomar said.

John Tesselaar, the aquarium manager at Petco in Porter Ranch, said he has sold 24 of the clown fish in the last three weeks, but that some buyers hesitated when faced with the expense of a saltwater environment.

``Some people have asked me if they can just put them in a goldfish bowl,'' he said. ``That made some people change their mind.''

David Hirschberg, owner of Advanced Aquatics Tropical in Newhall, has put together a few less expensive packages of fresh water tanks using salt water decorations, some ``fake Nemos'' and guppies. He said that interest in aquariums overall has grown since the movie's debut.

``Sales have doubled insofar as that type of fish ... but the whole idea has become more popular,'' he said. ``People are getting interested in tanks that are not just that fish.''

Unlike the surge in Dalmatians after Disney's ``101 Dalmatians'' series, when the novelty of Nemo wears off, orphaned fish won't be flooding into animal shelters.

``Most people will find a friend or someone else who's into aquariums to take their fish,'' Hirschberg said. ``Some people even bring them back to the store and trade them for different fishes.''

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) David Hirschberg, owner of Advanced Aquatics, has seen rising interest in fish as pets like this percula clownfish.

(2 -- color) no caption (Percula clownfish)

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer