Finding Dory fun at Sea Life Grapevine

Sea Life Grapevine Aquarium has expanded its summer offerings to meet a wave of interest in this film season’s most famous fish.

Finding Dory is a 3D computer-animated comedy adventure film released by Walt Disney Pictures. The blockbuster is a sequel to 2003’s Finding Nemo.

The movie focuses on the fish Dory, who journeys to be reunited with her parents.

In addition to viewing several saltwater celebrities, including 21 regal tangs known popularly as “Dory”, the aquarium has a new educational “Stars of the Sea” feature with a special quiz trail and educational talks in the 360° Ocean Tunnel and clown fish caves.

Glenna Lawrence of Mesquite was among eight family members who visited Sea Life on Thursday and got a close up view of fish they had seen on the movie screen two days earlier.

The Mesquite woman was joined by her sister, daughter, son-in-law and four grandchildren.

“The kids are having fun looking for all the characters that were in the movie,” Lawrence said, including Destiny the whale shark, Dory the blue tang fish and Nemo the clown fish. “It’s a good place to bring them because they can interact with the fish.”

Four-year-old Emma said her favorite was Dory because the fish looked like “a princess,” which is important to her because she wants to be a “princess doctor and help people” when she grows up.

The family was among those learning the latest fishy facts on tangs, clown fish, octopus and more. The exhibit runs throughout the month.

The group enjoyed following the quiz trail to find out who is the master of disguise, the creature with the perfect home and why most of these animals don’t make great pets for home aquariums.

“Regal tangs, like many species you find in public aquariums, are not great for at-home aquariums,” said Karen Rifenbury, aquarium curator for Sea Life Grapevine. “They are hard to care for unless you have the proper training, typically do not get along well with other fish and require a large aquarium and steady diet. Here at Sea Life we have the means, knowledge and methods to care for these species, and you can see them up close when you visit.”

Rifenbury said education is key to their message because “our aquariums try to be the voice of the animals.”

For information on the Grapevine aquarium located at Grapevine Mills mall at 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway, call 877-819-7677.

Sea Life Grapevine offers close views of everything from humble starfish and seahorses to graceful rays and powerful sharks.

Admission is $20 for adults, $16 for children ages 3 to 12. For more information visit www.visitsealife.com/grapevine.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Finding Dory fun at Sea Life Grapevine."