EdnJean

Hi ,

Bought these but do not know the name of this species, just liked the look of them. They also come in yellow.

Can anyone advise? I was told they like to school and are good community fish.

Thanks

Ed

Attached Images

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fishlover78

there nose and mouth area almost looks like a rainbow fish's mouth, hmm you got me stumped on this one!

mathas

They look like white skirt tetras that have been artificially dyed.

Shawnie

those are human genectically dyed glassfish of some kind ...they go thru torture being dyed by all different kinds of methods

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...US263%26sa%3DN heres a link for you

fishlover78

I was thinking they were died but I wasn't confident enough to say they were, Shawnie is right, they go thru torture and only a meager amount survive

Emory

Oh that is terrible! I just followed your link Shawnie. Humans are terrible for what they do to other living beings. Not you, EdnJean, you didn't know. But gee whiz!

Allie

That is exactly what they are. What a sin....

Steve113

They don't look too bad, almost natural so I can see why people may unwittingly buy them. Unlike the garish stripey luminous ones that are clearly dyed and tattooed.

But remember EdnJean was not to know.

EdnJean I advise you to read Shawnie's link too so you'll know for next time. And there's nothing wrong with the fish you have bought they should live and be healthy with the correct care, the issue is only that of ethics. The fish you bought should be ok although painted/dyed fish are said to be more prone to illness.

If you too have an issue with how the fish have been treated then take them back to the store and explain, I'm sure the fish store will be more than happy to exchange them for you if you express your reasons;

but remember - Someone has to care for them...

gremlin

I would say white skirt tetras - a variation of the black skirt tetras. And yes, they are probably dyed. Here is a link on white skirt tetras with a good pic of one: http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/ch...skirttetra.htm

Alessa

Shawnie, Not to confuse the way "glofish" are made... I think these tetras have been painted with the acid method.

Just to clarify, the proccess is most likely not "genetically" dyed but instead with some of the barbaric methods.

Steve113

Ah yes, well spotted Alessa. The genetic colouring is not seen as cruel, although there are some that still believe it is unethical. It is technically no more so than Genetically Modifying crops to make bigger jucier tomatoes for example.

The GM process does not harm nor hurt the fish but is the subject of some debate on the fishlore forum.

Your Whiteskirts appear to have been dyed however.

Shawnie

LOL maybe glofish and genetically wasnt the words I meant ..ty dahlink!! but I think the link explains it better than this brunette can

Alessa

I have my brunette moments quite often too...

EdnJean

Thank you all for the answer, information and guidance.

Had I known, I would not have bought them.

Regards

Ed

aecw

okay so I was reading this thread and yes what has been done to these fish is horrible and maybe by buying them you feel like you were in a small way contributing to a bad business but look at it this way EdnJean - you saved some fish and now you can provide them with a great life! Kinda like the greyhound rescue and saving poor little bowl bettas!
Be proud of yourself, love your fishies and make them happy.

Steve113

Well said!

Afterall,They're still fish & they're still alive.

EdnJean

Hi all,

Went back to that fish shop and they refer to them as Coloured widows. Is this just another name for them?

They appear a little different than the photo on this site. Their fins don't appear as long.

EdnJean

capekate

Hi
some call them black or white widow tetras, other names for them are black or white skirt tetras. There are also long fin black skirt tetras as well. The fish that are dyed are most likely the white skirt tetra which would be easier to color. Sometimes its just a matter of which name the LFS is calling them.

Butterfly

They are called fruit loop tetras(because of the color) here but they are still skirts that have been dyed. Here is another site that is good. www.deathbydyeing.org
carol

Zoreta

I have had these same variety of fish before, and have seen them in a couple of stores. I figured they were genetic, rather than dyed- now I know better! At least my two current ones have good homes.