Dyed fish being sold here!

[ladyqpid]

I was in my LPS this am and i noticed a tank full of 'painted fish'. I asked the woman who was serving if she was aware of how they got their color and she quite proudly informed me that they were injected with dye. I toldher it was barbaric and she told me, and i quote 'it doesn't hurt them, they don't feel things the same as we do'. I responded with... 'how long have you been able to talk to fish then?? Did they mention that they like being stuck with a needle and having color pumped into them thus shortening their lifespans all in the name of asthetics? How about we start sticking needles full of ink in you to change your color.... no wait, i can see you already do that yourself!' She had tatoos...laughs boy was i angry.... I turned and walked out leaving her standing with her bucket full of about $50 worth of fish I was going to buy.... I wont go back there again in a hurry. Talk about barbaric!!!

[Bumblebee]

There was an interesting article where some scientists tested out the 'fish dont feel pain' theory. they gave them non-lethal, temporary painful things like bee stings, hot and cold, and also damaged fins. The response on all species tested was that the fish 'sulked' hid or actually learned to avoid the painful experience. showing in the end that they did indeed 'feel' the pain and respond with fear, learning and the sulking just as any other animal would.

[sassybees]

Sadly it all comes down to the almighty dollar!!! They dont care what they put pets through, its not only guppies. Anything to look attractive and that makes monet... personally I go for the tattooing with a knitting needle to the decspicable people who do this to ANY defensless creature!
I think that will be my saying now. "I hate cruelty to ANY pet."

[dillen]

The anti dyed fish campaign is on a global scale.

Unfortunately when I went to Aquarama in Singapore last year dyed fish were everywhere. One place had even dyed their company name into the side of some albino tinfoil barbs…so wrong on so many levels…
Anyway, the only way to stop it is to show your support for the shops that are actively against it. In Australia there is only one shop I know of and that is WETPETZ at chandler in Brisbane.

www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/campaign_countries.php
Go to the Practical fish keeping site and click on the Australian flag.

Go WETPETZ.

D

[Bumblebee]

I know of two in tas that oppose buying these fish and will not stock them. I guess small LPS are equally as hurt when they continually lose the diseased fish.

[ladyqpid]

I was chatting with Starshine when we were at our LFS the other day and she mentioned that she thought it was illegal to actually sell the dyed fish and that she was going to 'dob' her LFS to the fisheries dept here in SA. Good on ya Starshine!!! Anyways, lo and behold, i go to my LPS a couple of days later and what is in their tanks..... zillions of the poor little buggers. After doing my soap box thing and storming out indignantly, leaving my purchases on the counter, i went home and phoned the fisheries dept. Got this incredibly sexy sounding guy.... ahem... errrrr sorry, got sidetracked... grinz... Anyways after chatting for a while he finally got around to getting one of his sidekicks to do some research and NO... its not illegal! I was flabberghasted. I climbed back up on my soapbox and lectured this man about how cruel it was. He was very understanding.. yeah right.. and ended our conversation with. If they were Australian fish we would probably do something about it. I wonder if the RSPCA would be interested in them??

[Bumblebee]

I have had a talk to RSPCA on the subject and all they say is 'our resources are already stretched'

The best thing to do is to quietly find out who their suppler is (a lot of good acting is required here, also fake interest goes a long way ) then discreetly e-mail every animal rights group in australia about the LPS and their supplier. Works wonders.