Fluorescent Fish

[agusf]

hello. I was just wondering, are there any cheap and easy to handle fluorescent freshwater fish out there?
because that would be awesome

 

[Bigd5482]

none that aren't genetically altered in freshwater anyway.

 

[ZoddyZod]

glofish are genetically modified zebra danios. However if you are in the UK I dont think they are available due to the UKs laws against GM livestock.

http/www.glofish.com/

there are also convict cichlids and angelfish that have been 'made', but these are not yet commercially available and the same restrictions would apply in the UK.

 

[Gvilleguy]

If you are in the US - I can testify that glofish are easy to care for and are brilliantly colored. And they do glow under a blacklight or moonlight LEDs. Their requirements are the same as Zebra Danios (since that's basically what they are), and they will shoal (and spawn) with Zebras.

[and, no, I'm not breeding them - no glo/zebra fry in my tank, as far as I have seen! but they do try]

 

[kaivalagi]

Please please please don't encourage genetically modifying fish by buying them, it's just wrong!

 

[Gvilleguy]

I've researched the opinions on both sides, and I don't personally have a problem with glofish. I do have a problem with fish that are injected.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Please please please don't encourage genetically modifying fish by buying them, it's just wrong!

I'm not encouraging, just simply answering the question. Whether it is 'wrong' or not is a matter of personal moral opinion. I'm not aware that these fish suffer physically for having modified DNA and therefore I dont have an opinion either way.

Fish dying on the other hand is cruel and known to have health side-effects.

 

[Gvilleguy]

And for anyone not familiar with glofish - this article explains why they stir up so much controversy:

The Glofish Controversy

 

[kaivalagi]

I'm not encouraging, just simply answering the question. Whether it is 'wrong' or not is a matter of personal moral opinion. I'm not aware that these fish suffer physically for having modified DNA and therefore I dont have an opinion either way.

I didn't take it any other way, I was just asserting my own personal opinion on the matter

Fish are beautiful as they are, I don't see any reason to mess with nature no matter how much or little harm is caused, it's doing a grand job on it's own of producing great looking fish...

 

[ZoddyZod]

Fish are beautiful as they are, I don't see any reason to mess with nature no matter how much or little harm is caused, it's doing a grand job on it's own of producing great looking fish...

completely agree with you there. I'm not interested in any 'man-made' or even hybrid fish, but each to their own.

There is a plus side to modified fish though. Where would Bond villians be without sharks with lazers on their heads?

 

[Verminator89]

Please please please don't encourage genetically modifying fish by buying them, it's just wrong!

Amen to that!

 

[Gvilleguy]

Well, I don't have the heart to look my little glofish in their eyes and tell them that they aren't one of God's creatures. My kids named them Dexter, Glowie, Banana, Comet, and Baby. I understand the argument of whether we should have bought them in the first place, but that ship has sailed in my tank, and the little guys are happily swimming around. We'll take good care of 'em.

 

[kaivalagi]

I wonder are they fertile after genetic modification? I wonder if they breed what the off-spring are like...?

 

[kizno1]

I wonder are they fertile after genetic modification? I wonder if they breed what the off-spring are like...?

From what ive heard all of them are fertile and the babies will be glofish aswell.

 

[kaivalagi]

I wonder are they fertile after genetic modification? I wonder if they breed what the off-spring are like...?

From what ive heard all of them are fertile and the babies will be glofish aswell.

Not good....atleast they could have made sure they can't reproduce considering the effort they went through to make them glow! Not cost effective though...I think this practice should be banned, it could have major impacts if these fish are released into thier "natural" habitat...