Painted fish

[Glengoyne]

So I went to the LFS today to get some advice about what to put with my
CAE that will go with the Loaches and Rainbows when we get the big
tank. (I would appreciate your input on that subject as well). While I
was there, I noticed some 'Diamond barbs'? I think thats what they were
calling them. As I was looking at the tanks and talking to the lfs
guy, I remarked about some fish that were about 4 in long, and white
with a flourescent diamond pattern on them. He told me that they were
albino something-or-others and that they were painted! I was amazed
that someone would even think to do this.

That leads me to wonder:
1) Who does this? is it the LFS? they are the only game in town outside
the chains, and if they are painting fish, I would be inclined to not
return (see the guppies in betta bowls thread)

2) What other fish might be painted?

[Charles]

On 13 Sep 2005 15:09:00 -0700, "Glengoyne" >
wrote:

>So I went to the LFS today to get some advice about what to put with my
>CAE that will go with the Loaches and Rainbows when we get the big
>tank. (I would appreciate your input on that subject as well). While I
>was there, I noticed some 'Diamond barbs'? I think thats what they were
>calling them. As I was looking at the tanks and talking to the lfs
>guy, I remarked about some fish that were about 4 in long, and white
>with a flourescent diamond pattern on them. He told me that they were
>albino something-or-others and that they were painted! I was amazed
>that someone would even think to do this.
>
>That leads me to wonder:
>1) Who does this? is it the LFS? they are the only game in town outside
>the chains, and if they are painting fish, I would be inclined to not
>return (see the guppies in betta bowls thread)
>
>2) What other fish might be painted?


http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html

http://fins.actwin.com/articles/paintedglass.php

http://www.aquarama.com.sg/aquaramamagazine/business2.html

http://www.petfish.net/painted_glassfish.htm

[Alpha]

You must be a newbie. This has been going on for at least four decades.

[Beano]

I must say I also only recently just heard of this phenomenon - I
haven't come across it where I live in Australia. I find it phenomenal
that people would do this - some people just don't know the process of
colouring the fish and buy them for their bright colours! From what I
hear they don't live very long.

[Elaine T]

Charles wrote:
> On 13 Sep 2005 15:09:00 -0700, "Glengoyne" >
> wrote:
>
>
>>So I went to the LFS today to get some advice about what to put with my
>>CAE that will go with the Loaches and Rainbows when we get the big
>>tank. (I would appreciate your input on that subject as well). While I
>>was there, I noticed some 'Diamond barbs'? I think thats what they were
>>calling them. As I was looking at the tanks and talking to the lfs
>>guy, I remarked about some fish that were about 4 in long, and white
>>with a flourescent diamond pattern on them. He told me that they were
>>albino something-or-others and that they were painted! I was amazed
>>that someone would even think to do this.
>>
>>That leads me to wonder:
>>1) Who does this? is it the LFS? they are the only game in town outside
>>the chains, and if they are painting fish, I would be inclined to not
>>return (see the guppies in betta bowls thread)
>>
>>2) What other fish might be painted?
>
>
>
> http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html
>
> http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html
>
> http://fins.actwin.com/articles/paintedglass.php
>
> http://www.aquarama.com.sg/aquaramamagazine/business2.html
>
> http://www.petfish.net/painted_glassfish.htm
>
>
Speaking of painted fish, sometimes fish stores get them in by mistake
so don't necessarily boycot a store that has some. I was talking to a
manager in one of our newer stores and asked if some unusual-looking
cories with a pinkish-red stripe from the anal fin to the caudal fin
were painted. He said they were, and came from the supplier that way.
The store didn't order them painted.

Even worse, they ordered cherry barbs, and got pink-dyed white skirt
tetras. He sadly said that the tetras were selling like crazy even when
he told people they were painted and wouldn't keep the color or even
stay healthy. I had the same experience with "neon glass fish" that had
clearly visible lymphocistis infections when I worked in a fish store.
I always tried my best to offer naturally colorful fish like neon or
glowlight tetras instead, and sometimes it worked.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Glengoyne]

Well it makes me feel better knowing that this isn't something that the
store is doing. I can't really fault a business for stocking what will
sell, although it is still mind boggling.

[m]

That's crazy... I never knew they painted cories.
I wonder what the economics are like surrounding painted fish... maybe
it's because I don't understand fully how they do it? All I've read
says that they inject the fish with some stuff... wouldn't that be
really time consuming? Dye probably isn't very expensive, and if the
fish sell like hotcakes to people that either don't mind or don't know
then I'm sure that's a trivial issue. But if it takes a lot of time
then I don't know why they would do it.

It seems counterproductive to me... I want fish that are soothing and
natural to watch. I don't want to look at my fish tank and get confused
and think that I'm on a vegas strip full of crazy neon lights.

[Gill Passman]

Elaine T wrote:
> Charles wrote:
>
>> On 13 Sep 2005 15:09:00 -0700, "Glengoyne" >
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> So I went to the LFS today to get some advice about what to put with my
>>> CAE that will go with the Loaches and Rainbows when we get the big
>>> tank. (I would appreciate your input on that subject as well). While I
>>> was there, I noticed some 'Diamond barbs'? I think thats what they were
>>> calling them. As I was looking at the tanks and talking to the lfs
>>> guy, I remarked about some fish that were about 4 in long, and white
>>> with a flourescent diamond pattern on them. He told me that they were
>>> albino something-or-others and that they were painted! I was amazed
>>> that someone would even think to do this.
>>>
>>> That leads me to wonder:
>>> 1) Who does this? is it the LFS? they are the only game in town outside
>>> the chains, and if they are painting fish, I would be inclined to not
>>> return (see the guppies in betta bowls thread)
>>>
>>> 2) What other fish might be painted?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html
>>
>> http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article3.html
>>
>> http://fins.actwin.com/articles/paintedglass.php
>>
>> http://www.aquarama.com.sg/aquaramamagazine/business2.html
>>
>> http://www.petfish.net/painted_glassfish.htm
>>
>>
> Speaking of painted fish, sometimes fish stores get them in by mistake
> so don't necessarily boycot a store that has some. I was talking to a
> manager in one of our newer stores and asked if some unusual-looking
> cories with a pinkish-red stripe from the anal fin to the caudal fin
> were painted. He said they were, and came from the supplier that way.
> The store didn't order them painted.
>
> Even worse, they ordered cherry barbs, and got pink-dyed white skirt
> tetras. He sadly said that the tetras were selling like crazy even when
> he told people they were painted and wouldn't keep the color or even
> stay healthy. I had the same experience with "neon glass fish" that had
> clearly visible lymphocistis infections when I worked in a fish store. I
> always tried my best to offer naturally colorful fish like neon or
> glowlight tetras instead, and sometimes it worked.
>
The LFS's I use actually advertise that they will neve sell painted or
dyed fish along with information on why not

Gill

[Beano]

yeah, but if they are fish enthusiests, they would have more in mind
than just profit, like stocking a quality item is also important for a
business. In a way it's a bit gimmicky. And by stocking the fish,
they are condoning the act.

I know this isn't the same thing, but I recently went to one of those
jewellery chain stores. They were selling these things called "mystic
fire" topaz, which they described to me as a "coloured topaz" - they
look kind of black but have lovely holographic colours in them.
Anyway, after asking the girl whether the colour would eventually come
off she said no. I already knew the answer, as if you turned the ring
side on you could see where the PAINT on the stone ended at the sides -
of course it would have chipped off.

So anyway, I guess the point of the story is, if the fish store is
stocking a shoddy product for profit, then don't expect them to ever
have any good products. Like pets paradise in Australia - I cant tell
you how many fish I bought from them over the years, what a waste of
money.

[Glengoyne]

I guess its a fine line, like I said before, other than the chain
stores, they are basically the only game in town. In all the trips to
that store, I dont think I have ever seen a dead fish in all the tanks.
That is in stark contrast to the local Wally-mart where some days they
have more floaters than swimmers. The staff at this store are very
knowledgable, and the only fish we have lost from them was the result
of a well meaning fish sitter. They tend to carry larger fish than the
chains as well. The CL's that we got 2 months ago from a chain, are
just now about the size of the loaches they carry at this store.

I'm torn I guess.

[Tynk]

m wrote:
> That's crazy... I never knew they painted cories.
> I wonder what the economics are like surrounding painted fish... wouldn't that be
> really time consuming? Dye probably isn't very expensive, and if the
> fish sell like hotcakes to people that either don't mind or don't know
> then I'm sure that's a trivial issue. But if it takes a lot of time
> then I don't know why they would do it.
>
> It seems counterproductive to me... I want fish that are soothing and
> natural to watch. I don't want to look at my fish tank and get confused
> and think that I'm on a vegas strip full of crazy neon lights.

maybe
> it's because I don't understand fully how they do it? All I've read
> says that they inject the fish with some stuff...

There are 2 different types of "painted fish". Some are injected, as
you have read about, the other is worse.
The fish are put into a vat of caustic solution with burns off their
slime coat. 80% die right then...80%!! Isn't that nuts.
Then, after being dipped in acid and had their slime coat burned off,
they are dumped into a vat of dye.
Most fish are so unhealthy from the process, if they're one of the 20%
that made it through the process, that they don't live very long
anyway.
If they do survive, their color will fade completely over time anyway.
I truly beleive this practice should be outlawed. There is no question
whether or not this practice is abusive. It's disgusting, and I ask
every shop owner that carries thewm if they are aware of the process.
If they are, and still buy them, I don't go back, and tell them why.

[NetMax]

"Glengoyne" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I guess its a fine line, like I said before, other than the chain
> stores, they are basically the only game in town. In all the trips to
> that store, I dont think I have ever seen a dead fish in all the tanks.
> That is in stark contrast to the local Wally-mart where some days they
> have more floaters than swimmers. The staff at this store are very
> knowledgable, and the only fish we have lost from them was the result
> of a well meaning fish sitter. They tend to carry larger fish than the
> chains as well. The CL's that we got 2 months ago from a chain, are
> just now about the size of the loaches they carry at this store.
>
> I'm torn I guess.


I was lucky that our CEO was a fish guy and not fond of dyed fish. When
touring the store opening, he quietly said to me that he didn't care if I
never carried any painted fish for sale. That was an easy suggestion to
adhere to ;~). The only painted fish we had were cast-offs from people who
were moving and they were clearly marked not-for-sale.

I'm not so sure all LFS managers have that much purchasing power (to turn
away potential sales items), but I do know that many do and still sell them
for economic reasons. It's probably a good idea to let them know your
opinion, but boycotting them should require some discretion imo.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[hunric12]

yes, i`m a newbe and i was wondering what does lfs stand for

[Richard]

local fish store

"hunric12" > wrote in message
...
>
> yes, i`m a newbe and i was wondering what does lfs stand for
>
>
>
>
> --
> hunric12