Painting Fish
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Painted fish are ornamental
aquarium An aquarium (: aquariums or aquaria) is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. fishkeeping, Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aquati ...
fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...
which have been artificially coloured to appeal to consumers. This artificial colouring, also known as juicing, is achieved by a number of methods, such as injecting the fish with a
hypodermic A hypodermic needle (from Greek ὑπο- (''hypo-'' = under), and δέρμα (''derma'' = skin)) is a very thin, hollow tube with one sharp tip. As one of the most important intravenous inventions in the field of drug administration, it is ...
syringe A syringe is a simple reciprocating pump consisting of a plunger (though in modern syringes, it is actually a piston) that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube called a barrel. The plunger can be linearly pulled and pushed along the inside ...
containing bright fluorescent colour
dye Juan de Guillebon, better known by his stage name DyE, is a French musician. He is known for the music video of the single "Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical ele ...
, dipping the fish into a dye solution, or feeding the fish dyed food. This controversial process is usually done to make the fish a brighter colour and more attractive to consumers. The colouring of the fish is not permanent, and usually fades away in six to nine months. This practice is distinct from the creation of
genetically modified fish Genetically modified fish (GM fish) are genetically modified organism, organisms from the taxonomic clade which includes the classes Agnatha (jawless fish), Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) and Osteichthyes (bony fish) whose genetic material ...
, whose colouring is passed on genetically and is permanent.


Methods

There are a number of methods for introducing artificial colour into fish.


Dyes

A common method of creating "painted fish" is through dye injection via syringe. Generally,
fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...
are injected multiple times. Fish may also be dipped in a caustic solution to strip their outer
slime coat The slime coat (also fish slime, mucus layer or slime layer) is the coating of mucus covering the body of all fish. An important part of fish anatomy, it serves many functions, depending on species, ranging from Fish locomotion, locomotion, Paren ...
, then dipped in dye. These methods are reported to have a very high mortality rate. Many varieties of "colour-enhancing"
foods Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin and contains essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or Mineral (nutrient), minerals. The ...
for aquarium fishes are available to the consumer. Generally, these foods contain natural dyes, such as beta-carotene, and are not harmful to fish, although, as with other dye methods, the effect is temporary. One source reports that harmful dyes are sometimes used by wholesalers, however.


Lasers

Fish can also be tattooed using a low-intensity
laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word ''laser'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...
with a dye, a process that was developed by scientists for fisheries but is now applied to ornamental fish.


Hormones

Hormone administration can sometimes increase colouration, although it can also render female fish infertile.


Genetic modification

Introduction of genes for fluorescent pigments, derived from corals and jellyfish, results in permanent colouration that is also passed on to offspring, without the need to inject or physically modify the fish themselves. Aquarium fish genetically modified to fluoresce in bright colours under white or
ultraviolet light Ultraviolet radiation, also known as simply UV, is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths of 10–400 nanometers, shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays. UV radiation is present in sunlight and constitutes about 10% of th ...
are now available commercially, under the trade name
GloFish The GloFish is a patented and trademarked brand of fluorescently colored genetically modified fish, genetically modified aquarium fish. They have been created from several different species of fish: zebrafish were the first GloFish available in ...
. The technology was originally developed to produce a fish capable of detecting environmental
pollution Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause harm. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the component ...
. These
zebrafish The zebrafish (''Danio rerio'') is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Danionidae of the order Cypriniformes. Native to South Asia, it is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio (an ...
and
tetra Tetra is the common name of many small freshwater characiform fishes. Tetras come from Africa, Central America, and South America, belonging to the biological families Characidae, Alestidae (the "African tetras"), Lepidarchidae, Lebiasi ...
s are available in several fluorescent colours, protected by a United States
patent A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an sufficiency of disclosure, enabling discl ...
.


Varieties

Some species, such as albino
Corydoras ''Corydoras'' is a genus of freshwater catfish in the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Corydoradinae. The species usually have more restricted areas of endemism than other callichthyids, but the area of distribution of the entire genus almos ...
and "painted" glassfish, are injected with dye using a
hypodermic needle A hypodermic needle (from Greek Language, Greek ὑπο- (''hypo-'' = under), and δέρμα (''derma'' = skin)) is a very thin, hollow tube with one sharp tip. As one of the most important intravenous inventions in the field of drug admini ...
. In more recent times (2004-2005), injection dyed albino
Plecostomus Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is the common name of several species of freshwater loricariid catfish commonly sold as aquarium fish. These include: *''Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps *''Hypostomus plecostomus'' *'' Hypostomus punctatus'' *''Pterygoplic ...
and rift lake
cichlids Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of Percomorpha, percomorph fish in the family (biology), family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been Binomial nomenclature, scientifically described, making ...
have also become available. Other than the Indian Glassy Fish, most dyed fish are albinos.


Some commonly painted species

*
Indian glassy fish ''Parambassis ranga'', commonly known as the Indian glassy fish, Indian glassy perch, or Indian X-ray fish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the Asiatic glassfish family Ambassidae. It is native to an area of South Asia from Pakistan ...
(''Parambassis ranga''). Tradename: Painted glassfish; Disco Fish; Colored Glass Tetra; Lightbulb tetra. *
Black tetra The black tetra (''Gymnocorymbus ternetzi''), also known as the black skirt tetra, petticoat tetra, high-fin black skirt tetra, black skirt tetra, black widow tetra and blackamoor, is a freshwater fish of the characin family (Characidae). It i ...
(''Gymnocorymbus ternetzi''). Tradenames: Berry Tetra; Painted Tetra. *
Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...
(''Astronautus ocellatus''). Tradenames: Blueberry Oscar; Strawberry Oscar. *''
Corydoras ''Corydoras'' is a genus of freshwater catfish in the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Corydoradinae. The species usually have more restricted areas of endemism than other callichthyids, but the area of distribution of the entire genus almos ...
'' species *African Rift Lake
cichlid Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of percomorph fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families, with on ...
s, such as ''Pseudotropheus''. Tradenames: Ice Blue Albino Cichlid; Zebra Ice Albino Cichlid. * Suckermouth catfish (''Hypostomus plecostomus''). Tradenames: Patriotic Suckerfish; Mixed Color Suckerfish. *
Blood parrot cichlid The Blood Parrot Cichlid (''Amphilophus citrinellus'' × ''Vieja melanurus''), or parrot cichlid, is a Hybrid (biology), hybrid species of fish in the family Cichlidae. The fish was first bred in Taiwan around 1986. Blood parrots should not be ...
(''Amphiliphus citrinellus'' x ''Heros severus''). Tradenames: Jellybean Cichlid; Cotton Candy Cichlid. *
Goldfish The goldfish (''Carassius auratus'') is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the w ...
(''Carassius auratus''). Tradenames: Jellybeans; Icepops.


Health hazards to painted fish

A 1998 survey carried out in the South of England revealed that over 40% of painted
glassfish GlassFish is an open-source Jakarta EE platform application server project started by Sun Microsystems, then sponsored by Oracle Corporation, and now living at the Eclipse Foundation and supported by OmniFish, Fujitsu and Payara. The support ...
showed signs of a ''
Lymphocystis Lymphocystis is a common viral disease of freshwater and saltwater fish. The virus that causes this disease belongs to the genus '' Lymphocystivirus'' of the family Iridoviridae. Aquarists often come across this virus when their fish are stress ...
'' infection, compared to 10% of unpainted glassfish. The infection may have been caused by transmitting the virus from fish to fish via an infected needle, or by a reduced resistance to the infection due to stress from the injection process. In addition, fishes injected with dye often die without apparent external disease symptoms, presumably due to kidney disease caused by injection.


Efforts to stop fish-painting

Some members of the aquarium trade want to ban this practice. For example, the British publication ''
Practical Fishkeeping ''Practical Fishkeeping'' (also known as ''PFK'') is a United Kingdom-based aquarium magazine. It is published every four weeks by Warners Publications Plc. The title covers the entire aquatic market from tropical freshwater and tropical mari ...
'' started a campaign in 1996 to ask retailers to stop selling dyed fish, which led to a significant decrease in the number sold in the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
. ''Practical Fishkeeping'' has launched a similar campaign with a global scope and maintains a register of stores which do not stock dyed fish. The
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity operating in England and Wales which promotes animal welfare. The RSPCA is funded primarily by voluntary donations. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest and largest a ...
(RSPCA) regards the practice as cruel and unnecessary cosmetic
mutilation Mutilation or maiming (from the ) is Bodily harm, severe damage to the body that has a subsequent harmful effect on an individual's quality of life. In the modern era, the term has an overwhelmingly negative connotation, referring to alteratio ...
. A campaign in Australia and in the UK has limited the sale of these fish. Dyed fish are still available and are generally imported from
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...
. In February 2006, the UK's
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, ministerial department of the government of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for environmental quality, environmenta ...
(Defra) confirmed that it would not be making it illegal to sell dyed fish in the UK under the Animal Welfare Bill.


References


Related Sites


Painfully Painted Fish
{{Aquarium Fishkeeping Animal welfare Cruelty to animals