Err . . . I've got to vent about this . . .

[Blurk]

Lately I've been checking out nearly every LFS within 40 miles of me and I ran across a couple that stood out to me. Not because they were well kept or had a nice selection (which one would hope would be the reason) but because the carried one of biggest fish related pet peeves: dyed and tattooed fish. These poor Parrots were tattooed to look like clowns or dyed various rainbow colors. There was a group of 'blueberry" oscars looking rather miserable (except for the dead one laying on the bottom). These poor Cichlids had been subjected to tortures that will cut their lives short immensly! How can people purchase these fish knowing they're supporting that?! Don't they realize how cruel it is? Fish are beautiful as they are! Thanks for listening to (or reading rather) my rant.

How does everyone else feel about dyed fish?

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I don't see the reason for it, esp. since you can get fish any color you want naturally. It's not good for the fish and it's not necessary for anything. I doubt they'd sell all that many if it were common knowledge that they were dyed and that it was a cruel, life-shortening process.

Ever notice how they like to give "cute" names to dyed fish, ie jellybean parrot, blueberry oscar, strawberry/blueberry/mixed fruit tetras, etc.? Painted glass fish is the only one that I can think of that is fairly descriptive.

 

[Blurk]

What shocked me is the most was that one of the workers was telling me that there are people that come in and love the dyed fish! But I agree CAPS for the most part: If people knew what they were getting they wouldn't purchase it. But it should also be the responsibilty of the store owner not to buy those fish in the first place.

 

[Chazwick]

I think it's a sick, cruel.. cruel act.
I wouldn't purchase at a store that sold dyed/painted fish and i'd make sure to complain to.. luckily, both my LFS wont purchase dyed fish, so i'm lucky.

 

[Big Vine]

I've bought fish from stores that sell dyed fish, but maybe I should stop doing that and just complain to the management/owner(s). It's tough, because some of these places are the only seemingly half-way decent ones around that have other healthy fish in the rest of their tanks.

Is it hypocritical for me to continue to shop at these places, even if I'm not buying any dyed fish?

What if I complain about it and then continue to purchase from them---Is that still hypocritical? (and I use the word "hypocritical" because I am against dyed fish, yet continue to shop at places that sell them)

An alternative would be to order online, I suppose, but then I typically would have no way of seeing that other, non-dyed fish, are healthy and kept in good conditions prior to purchasing. I suppose I could just wait and see what shows up in the bag at my doorstep. And who's to say for certain that they don't keep/sell dyed fish either?

Sorry...I don't mean to hijack this thread. These are just a few thoughts to consider in the whole scheme of things.

Big Vine

 

[Chazwick]

I don't think it's that bad purchasing at a shop that sells dyed fish, as long as you're not purchasing the dyed fish themselves, seeing as more sales mean they'll order more, so your not increasing the rate of dyed fish at all

 

[seastaar88]

people just aren't aware of how these fish get that way.

 

[Blurk]

Big Vine, I don't think it's hypocritical to purchase from the store as long as you don't buy those fish. For instance, my 80g tank comes from one of the stores that sells dyed fish. As you can see I think it's a horrible practice but I'm not supporting that by buying the tank, I'm supporting the people that make very nice aquariums. I think as long as you make a complaint about it and not buy fish that are dyed/tattooed you are making a statement.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I agree completly with you. Give it to me natural, straight out of the river/lakes.

I don't believe all stores that sell them are bad however, it is still a store trying to stay in business....and whatever sells makes them money. You can't keep a LFS going without money.

 

[Lotus]

One LFS I asked about it said that people bought them a lot, and really liked them

Sometimes the stores don't really know what it is that's on the wholesalers' lists, they're just listed as "blue tetras" or something, and sometimes they take a gamble on it being a blue tetra, as opposed to a dyed blueberry tetra. By the time they collect from the wholesaler, the deal is done and they're stuck with the fish. I know some stores buy them willingly, but not all do.

 

[FishiesGallore]

I used to work in the same strip mall as this little pet store. On my lunch breaks you could often find me hanging out there. I made friends with the owners and every time I'd go in to get fish, Jimmy, the manager would say to me Amy, you know how to get them out, you know how to bag them go get them yourself! hehe. . . I became quite good at catching the ones I wanted and I learned a lot from Jimmy. One day around x-mas time I went in and they had some new fish in there that I had never seen before. Granted I am new to the Fish Hobby Scene, since I've only been keeping fish since last September. These new fish were Painted Glass ones and they were in gawd-awful neon green and hot pink. I took one look at them and asked Jimmy if those were they're real colors. He explained the whole proccess of dying the fish and I felt sick to my stomach. I've done the research on it since then and I find it utterly revolting and cruel. I told Jimmy that if he ever got them again I'd kick his %#*. . . that seemed to get the message across to him. Next day I went in and they were all dead. . .

I fwapped Jimmy upside the head and did the whole "Told ya so" routine. . . I continue to go back there because they have a great selection and its where I've gotten most of my knowledge about fish. This does not make me a "hypocrite" as other have said, I wasn't the one buying the fish although he carried them for a short while.
Just because they sell them doesn't meen you should boycot the place. Voice your opinion, spread awareness of the problem and many will listen to you. Boycot a place and your message gets lost.
Tell your friends, they may not be aware. Your friends will tell other friends in the trade, they in turn will pass it on. If you got a good track record on a place you buy fish and then one day dyed fish turn up. . . tell the owner/manager. . . if its a hole in the wall shop, they might not know the dangers. If you turn your back, nothing will be done about it.

hehe thats my 2 cents

 

[PuNanny]

I think dye fish is cruel If you what color in your tank GO Salt water Yeah saltwater!

 

[Blurk]

Very well said FishiesGallore!

 

[sutty30]

the government in the UK recently decided not to ban them a big mistake I think we all agree . want to do something look here

 

[SonicMarauder]

this just goes to show you which store are out for the money and which stores actually care about the animals... the main thought behind animal modification is that in business theres only one frame of mind... according to them, the general public is basically stupid according to people who only look to do business. Unfortunatly, the majority of the general public are uneducated about the product they are going to buy. Human nature tells us that there are certain things that humans are attracted to. colors is a main one of those things and this topic is no exception. business people know this, their whole career depends on what attracts the consumer. In a fish store run by greedy people, they will try anything to attract customers to their product. so they are like "HEY WHY DONT WE TRY TO MAKE THESE FISHY THINGS MORE COLORFUL AND MORE ATTRACTIVE" so they dye them up. They dont care about what happens to the fish after it leaves the store, they just care about the money that fish brings them

now the stores that dont dye their fish might actually care about the animals and usually the non dyers usually stock a couple naturally colorful fish and provide better lighting to show off the natural colors.... im not saying that all non dyers do that im just saying thats my observation from around here

now im not saying that both true for every lfs, but i have a friend that is going to college for business,mainly sales and retail, and hes the one that told be about business and the effects of human nature pertaining to attraction and interest. basically he's like "sex sells, colors sell, luster sells, and even violence sells. everything tied to human desire can and will be manipulated to sell them something"

so remember folks... Money is the root of all evil and greed creates fish that resemble the the wonder twins, bright, colorful but otherwise worthless and probably wont live long

 

[Fishckabibble]

although i am 100 percent against dyed fish, my sister has a "purple" parrotfish that she was given, she did not buy it mind you, but it is now full grown ( she has had it for 3 years) and has lost all the coloring, its now a pale yellow tone. My mother also has a parrotfish but it is not dyed, and she keeps hers in a community tank with tetras and other small fish, it is full grown and has never hurt any of her other fish. but the one my sister has , from what she was told, was not injected with dye but soaked in a coloring agent, im not sure if this is true but im still amazed it has lived as long as it has.

 

[Fish Friend]

Ive already donated some money
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/truecolors.htm

 

[Blurk]

I complained to about three stores this weekend. One of them told me the fish were a "gift" from his wholesaler for his grand opening. Wow, what a gift: Here, sell your customers tainted fish that are slowly being poisoned so they'll get angry when their fish dies in a month and never shop at your store again.

How thoughtful.