Narcicius

Like I said don't avoid the store if you can't shop anywhere else, and I guess I was a ignorant in my earlier posts bit I was angry. So if your at a store and see someone considering these fish just politely inform them what that fish has been through and suggest a naturally attractive fish.

bbfeckawitts

I think that it is mean to dye fish but at the same time the stores will continue to sell them as long as they can make a dollar off them. If people knew that this was very painful for the fish anyone who has a heart would not buy them. Unfortunately people think it is "just a fish" and that "they can't feel pain", which obviously is not true because when a fish has a hurt fin they hold it up to their body.

COBettaCouple

The way that I see it is - I'm going to spend the fish budget somewhere, there's the internet, stores, breeders, fish clubs, craigslist, etc.. Why give the money to someone who supports animal cruelty when I can give it to someone who doesn't?

If they have glofish, that's one thing.. but there is no denying the cruelty of dying and tattooing fish. For each little tortured fish swimming around at the store, at least 9 died in the process. Plus these fish tend to be less healthy and more prone to sickness and disease - that's stealing from customers expecting normal healthy fish. More than enough reasons to make me shop someplace else.

So far, I haven't found a store here in Denver selling the tortured fish, but should I find one, I'll be glad to let them know that our fish budget is walking out the door and the word will be spread to not shop there. That store will lose out on more business that the money they make on the tortured fish.

CatladyDane

How can you tell if a fish is dyed? So many are naturally colorful. All creatures are beautiful in their own way. I absolutely love my ghost catfish! He's colorless & you can see through him - everyone says he's "cool". And my little red swordtail with his dark tail is so handsome! As for tattooing: some of the body art (for those brave enough to deliberately stick needles into themselves) is fabulous, but I wouldn't dream of sticking myself or any other creature unless by accident (sewing) or medically necessary. Lasers don't make it any more appealing, either.

sirdarksol

Do research on the fish you're going to buy. For example, if you see a tank full of fish called glassfish, and they've got these beautiful little neon spots in them, but you're not sure, go home and do a search on them. You'll find out that glassfish normally look like ghost catfish, and have no natural color to them (except for the greyish pink of some of the organs).
Others, you can easily tell, like the tattooed koi in one of the other "dyed fish" threads around here. The thing looks like a clown. I was sick that someone would torture such an intelligent creature in order to take away its natural platinum beauty.

I love seeing tattoos on people, but tattooing a fish is like tattooing someone against their will. The fish did not make the choice to be stuck repeatedly with a needle.