Parrot cichlids

[wrs]

why not just buy the non dyed version? They are alot nicer looking, with out those tackey and fake neon greens, pinks, blues and purples, and all other colors.

 

[Synirr]

why not just buy the non dyed version? They are alot nicer looking, with out those tackey and fake neon greens, pinks, blues and purples, and all other colors.

A lot of times a non-dyed version can be hard to find, but I do agree with you that the dyed ones, apart from it being cruel and unnecessary, also look tacky. I've never seen a fish like my Marie before or since, and even though I thought their little faces were cute as a button, I almost didn't buy one because they were dyed and bred to be without tails. Most of them sat at my LFS for months, and I finally broke down and talked to the owner about them being dyed... that's when I found out she didn't know they were going to be dyed when she ordered them, and wasn't going to order any more.... it's also the day I bought one

 

[chishnfips]

How do they actually dye the fish?

It would no doubt hurt like crazy at the time. What about after they are dyed would it still cause them pain?

Surely they shouldn't be aloud to do it if it is that bad.

 

[Synirr]

How do they actually dye the fish?

It would no doubt hurt like crazy at the time. What about after they are dyed would it still cause them pain?

Surely they shouldn't be aloud to do it if it is that bad.

They are either dyed by having their slimecoats chemically removed (burned off,) being emersed in dye, and then being stimulated to produce new slimecoats which cover the dye and lock it in, or by being injected with dye, like a tattoo. I don't imagine the dye hurts them once it is already in there (tattoos don't hurt after they have healed,) but considering how few survive the process, I'm sure it's hell when it is being done.

Edited for spelling.

 

[chishnfips]

thats a bit grim it has to be said

 

[GuppyDude]

Iv looked at the same situation with walmart fish, they would only stock them if there was a demand. but by not buying them, it was almost certain that all those fish would die. but by noy buying those fish, the next generation of fish would be able to find better homes throgh other sources. yes it is grim to say that so many fish must take one for the team, but in the long run it would break the continuous cycle and spare fish of the future the same grizly fate.

if there were only a better way to dye fish so that it wouldn't cause them any kind of pain, then i wouldn't have anythimg to say about it, but dyeing not only hurts the fish, but the fish keeping hobby as a whole. the serious fish keepers of today dont just want fish that look nice, they want fish that are pretty on their own, fish who dont need to be modified to be attractive. perhaps the industry will someday take an interest in what us fish people accually look for in our fish.

 

[chishnfips]

surely you can dye fish by putting it in their food, farmed salmon have their flesh dyed in this way, surely there are natural dyes that can be used and are harmless.

 

[freddyk]

From a more selfish point of view, the method of dying they use on parrots (the dip n dye method) does not last. As the fish grows they loose the color and become a muddy, ugly (assuming one actually thinks fake bubblegum colors are nice) version of what was intended. Even if you have no concern for moral implications or corruption of the hobby, surely nobody wants ugly fish.

 

[freddyk]

surely you can dye fish by putting it in their food, farmed salmon have their flesh dyed in this way, surely there are natural dyes that can be used and are harmless.

These are methods of enhaning colors. You can use carotene, for instance, to enhance yellows, oranges and reds (too much will turn a yellow fish orange). However to get the fisherprice colors of these parrots there is no natural method.

 

[dirtydogg]

In America at least, I'm pretty sure there aren't any laws about it because they are "just fish." Let's face it, not many people really think of them as worth protecting.

Actually there are a very few states in America that do not allow the alteration of live animals. Though it is probably usually overlooked.