Painted fish
Painted fish are ornamental
, dipping the fish into a dye solution, or feeding the fish dyed food.This controversial process is usually done to make the fish a brighter colour and more attractive to consumers. The colouring of the fish is not permanent, and usually fades away in six to nine months.
Methods
There are a number of methods for introducing artificial colour into fish.
Dyes
A common method of creating "painted fish" is through dye injection via syringe. Generally, fish are injected multiple times.[1] Fish may also be dipped in a caustic solution to strip their outer slime coat, then dipped in dye. These methods are reported to have a very high mortality rate.[2]
Many varieties of "colour-enhancing"
Lasers
Fish can also be tattooed using a low-intensity laser with a dye, a process that was developed by scientists for fisheries but is now applied to ornamental fish.[3]
Hormones
Hormone administration can sometimes increase colouration, although it can also render female fish infertile.[4]
Genetic modification
Introduction of genes for fluorescent pigments, derived from corals and jellyfish, results in permanent colouration that is also passed on to offspring, without the need to inject or physically modify the fish themselves.
Aquarium fish genetically modified to fluoresce in bright colours under white or
Varieties
Some species, such as albino
Some commonly painted species
- Indian Glassy Fish(Parambassis ranga). Tradename: Painted glassfish; Disco Fish; Colored Glass Tetra; Lightbulb tetra.
- Black tetra (Gymnocorymbus ternetzi). Tradenames: Berry Tetra; Painted Tetra.
- Oscar (Astronautus ocellatus). Tradenames: Blueberry Oscar; Strawberry Oscar.
- Corydoras species
- African Rift Lake cichlids, such as Pseudotropheus. Tradenames: Ice Blue Albino Cichlid; Zebra Ice Albino Cichlid.
- Suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus). Tradenames: Patriotic Suckerfish; Mixed Color Suckerfish.
- Blood parrot cichlid (Amphiliphus citrinellus x Heros severus). Tradenames: Jellybean Cichlid; Cotton Candy Cichlid.
- Goldfish (Carassius auratus). Tradenames: Jellybeans; Icepops.[7]
Health hazards to painted fish
A 1998 survey carried out in the South of England revealed that over 40% of painted
Efforts to stop fish-painting
Some members of the aquarium trade want to ban this practice. For example, the British publication
In February 2006, the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that it would not be making it illegal to sell dyed fish in the UK under the Animal Welfare Bill.[10]
References
- ^ a b Dr Stan MacMahon and Dr Peter Burgess (March 1998). "Why it's cruel to dye". Practical Fishkeeping. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
- ^ a b Shirlie Sharp. "Death by Dyeing". About.Com. Retrieved May 19, 2006.
- ^ "Company offers custom fish tattoos with laser". Practical Fishkeeping. 2006-02-23. Archived from the original on 2006-04-11. Retrieved 2006-05-19.
- ^ http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/steroids.html thekrib.com
- ^ "GloFish: First Genetically Modified Pet in U.S." The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. 2004. Archived from the original on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ^ "United States Patent 7,135,613". November 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-10.
- ^ "Shades of Death". Retrieved 2006-05-19.
- ^ Jim Greenwood, B.V.Sc. "What's wrong with a painted angel?". Eastern Districts Aquarium Society. Archived from the original on December 8, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
- ^ "Dyed Fish Campaign". Practical Fishkeeping. Archived from the original on 2006-02-14. Retrieved 2006-05-19.
- ^ "Dyed fish to remain legal". Practical Fishkeeping. 2006-02-17. Archived from the original on 2006-03-03. Retrieved 2006-05-19.