Are my fish DYED?????

I am desperate for some advice... I 'think' I own some dyed fish... I am an absolute newbie to the world of fish (actually my son has had tropical fish for 5 years but I was terrified of them-they had me freaking like a whacked out stoner-FINALLY I've overcome it) needless to say I am interested in learning about fish so I have spent hours reading the forums here and in reading about dyed fish I am now begining to wonder if MY fish are in fact dyed...

I recently got 4 tetra and they're predominantly white but they've a brilliant coloured patch running down the length of their body. The coloured part is above their spine (at least I think it is their backbone-they're kind of see through)... The colours I have are: green, orange, pink and purple... Brilliantly bright colours! I am including some photos but the quality is not great. If anyone here can help me I would sincerely appreciate it because I feel terrible thinking I have dyed fish. I don't even know what I should do about this... I do intend to speak with the store they came from if they're died but do I keep the fish or return them? Thank you so much in advance for your time and any help you can offer

 

That second picture really looks like a dyed fish. What to look for is generally that tone of pink, and bright blue. A lot of albino species are dyed, sadly.

I guess the only thing you can do is talk to the shop and find out whether they know it's dyed. If they say yes, find out whether they intend on continuing this trade. If they say yes, then explain that they will be loosing your custom for that reason, and that you shall name and shame other ships following the same practice. If you are nice and calm about it, they generally at least take heed and you've planted a seed. They'll be more conscious about the moral implication next time the order these fish. If you're argumentative about it, they'll dismiss you as a crazed animal rights activist.

I was sad to discover that one of my fave fish stores does hold them, and intends on continuing if they're popular. I told the clerk what I have advised you to tell your local shop, and he responded really positively (he basically said: out of my hands, totally agree, my boss wants profit first, I'll let him know). I'll also e-mail the manager to expose my concerns.

HI OneIDKat. I could be wrong, but the one in the second picture really looks dyed to me.

 

Thank you armadillo, I will certainly take your advice... I am really disappointed and I'll be going to the store tomorrow to talk to the owner; calmly... The guy who owns it is lovely, we've been going there for years because he gives great advice, tests our water, will talk for hours and answer even the most idiotic of questions... He has even nursed a sick fish back to health for us once!!!! Deep down I don't think he'd be unaware of the risks with dying fish because he is very knowledgable and other aquariums have recommended him to us and others as something of an 'expert'.

I don't think I have ever felt so bad in all my life... Sounds dramatic but I really do feel like fish-poop! Thanks ever so much for your reply

Funny that the pink one should be the one that caught your attention because that is the one that first raised my suspitions... I located a photo of some fruit loop tetras and mine look JUST like the ones in this photo... I think my chat tomorrow morning is only going to confirm what I already know... I might print off some of the info I find and show Mr BAD Fishman!

 

Yes those are dyed Tetras Go ahead and keep them he will just sell them to some one else. If they live for any length of time they may lose the color. BAD FISHMAN!!!!
Carol

 

I hope the owner understands your concern, hopefully he'll stop selling these fish. I really wouldn't get your hopes up though, by the sound of it he knows what hes doing, and therefore probably know that dyed fish are in fact dyed, but are also popular to young aquarist. I hope it all works out and let us know how it goes, just don't get angry.

 

Very bad Fishman, still I am sooooooo tempted to call him names that have many MANY expletives... It's hard to reconcile this with the years of amazing advice he's given us. I was JUST at the store today hoping to buy some Neons and I took my little water sample as he likes to test the ph before he sells a fish so that it won't go into shock... My ph was a little higher than his tanks so he wouldn't sell me any because it may shock the fish, we're talking a .2 difference but he's always been this way... Very careful to make sure the fish will be housed correctly often putting the needs of the fish over store profit. Then this, it just boggles the mind! The hypocracy! He knows!! HE KNOWS!!!!

Is there ANYTHING I can do help get the dye out? I read over time the colour fades so can I encourage them to help them flush out the toxins? Is it ok to keep them alive or should I send them to fishy heaven? Are they in pain or suffering? Wow I feel so awful; like I am responsible because I didn't educate myself! Butterfly I think you are right when you say if I don't keep the fish someone else will buy them but I am going to go see him tomorrow about this. I'll be polite and calm but I am going to tell him the facts (I am certain he'd have to be aware of this already) and I will ask him to stop selling them... I just hope he does! Fingers crossed!

 

Don't get your hopes up those fish sell like candy for little kids, that mean $$$ for the store owner. People nowadays are more concerned with that than anything else, and as for your fish I believe that all the pain is over with, the fish are soaked in a solution that makes all their scales fall off, then they are soaked in the dye. I don't believe your fish are in anymore pain just keep them as happy and healthy as possible until they live out their lives as best they can.

 

I hate stores that support the cruel torture of fish and won't give them my business. That's why I don't shop at Big Al's online, even with good prices there.

You could try boosting their immune system with Vita-Chem and Garlic Boost.

 

I thought garlic boost was an appetite supplement.

 

Garlic Guard is. Garlic Boost is more of a vitamin type product that can just be added to the tank on a regular basis.

I thought garlic boost was an appetite supplement.

 

the fish are soaked in a solution that makes all their scales fall off, then they are soaked in the dye.

Actually their scales don't come off, the slime coat comes off. The slime coat is what protects them from infection.
I believe the tetras that are dyed just in places like down the back are injected with dye.
Here is some more information on dyed fish

I have read that as many as 80% of all fish dyed -die in the process.
Carol

 

That is still sickening the slime coat protects the fish from immediate stress, that is very traumatic to a fish. I really hope the market for it stops really soon, even though it probably won't, the awareness level needs to be raised in the beggining aquarist community.

 

Ya they are unfortunately dyed white skirt tetras. We had a store in town a long time back selling them as cotton candy tetras, I said to the girl you have incorrectly labeled these fish, as it should say painfully dyed white skirt tetras.

My boss had bought some of these fish for her tank before knowing that they were dyed and hers are still alive but the dye has now pretty much faded out and they look much better now, being that they look like a white skirt tetra now

 

As long as people continue this trend of seeing living creatures as fashion accessories and decorations and keep buying them, this will never stop.

It's not just tetras either.

 

Update!!!

So... I went to my local Aquarium to speak with the owner about my 'dyed fish' and now I don't quite know how I feel. I am really shy and this was incredibly difficult for me to do so I found myself freaking out on how best to approach the situation so I patched together a pamphlet about fish dying to take with me as a rebuttal because I seriously didn't want him trying to giggle at my newbie knowledge. I started off by seaching every tank for any fish that had been dyed... There were not any others except for the White Skirt Tetras... After that I asked the owner what was the best way I could learn about fish and how to keep them, he suggested one or two books but said the internet is the best place in his opinion because the info in updated, most sites have forums and you're able to contact other fish owners for assistance, advice and help...

I then made a bee-line for the tank containing the dyed fish and asked him exactly what type of fish they were because I had not been able to find out what they were through seaching online... His response "Coloured Tetras". I asked if they were rare or a new breed because my searches turned up nothing, he then told me they are artificially coloured. I asked if he knew precicely how it is done and if it was painful... He said he wasn't sure about the actual process but the colour was much like a temporary tattoo and would fade in time leaving me with a pretty white fish... If they're so pretty naturally why even considering dying them I asked, he shrugged. So I whipped out my pamphlet and showed it to him. I told him how it was done and let him know I was really upset that I had been sold fish that had been dyed. He asked if I had come in for a refund so I told him what I wanted was for him to stop selling these fish. Ohhh and I also said I resented being sold the fish because he knew I was new to the game and was certain he'd never have done it had I been ore knowledgable...

I reminded him of times he's refused to sell me fish when the water quality was off even by the slightest amount and said that given the concern he showed there I felt selling these fish was hypocritical of him. He'd done a great dishonor to himself by stooping to such a low level because I genuinely believe that he does care about his fish... He reminded me that we are frequently in the store and asked if I had ever seen fish like this before because he rarely stocks them... That isn't the point I said, rarely isn't never. I was asked again about a refund and he offered to make it up to me in anyway he could so I said why not place the remaining fish into your display tank and for go selling them...

Guess what? HE DID!!!!!! He moved them into the other tank, then and there (actually he tested the water first and said that if the difference was by much he'd have to shift them into anothe tank before moving them into the display one. The test must have been ok because he shifted them into the display tank)... I intend to stop by every day that I am able and I drive past it daily... I can spare 5 minutes to check and told him I would definitely be doing this... I also said that should I see dyed fish on sale again I would be standing our the front handing out my pamphlets. I'd approach local schools and community groups to help me in my protest and even though many people might not see the fuss there would be enough to create one.

So there you have it... My silly little story but I am proud to know I have at least tried, I intend to persevere with my 'checks' to see he is keeping his end of the bargain. Thanks to everyone who has posted a reply and offered advice to me on what I should do... I still feel guilty for not knowing what I got myself into but to err is human, its what we do after the mistake is made that counts.

P.S I am including the pamphlet I made incase anyone else finds it helpful... I know I found it better knowing that I had something to back me up and give me the courage to stand my ground!

 

well done one up for the power of the fish keepers.
Sounds like the fish store are willing to listen though which most are not, so well done to them too.
You did a fab thing though !!!

ps. amazing pamphlat

 

You did just great!

It's very important to remain calm and be polite and reasonable when making a complaint, and it sounds like you did everything right. You're doing something to improve the lives of fish in your little part of the world and should be quite proud of yourself.

And kudos to the store owner for showing he does care about something other than dollars and cents, plus he kept a good customer. Win/win all around.

WTG!

 

That's great you are saving some innocent fish from severe pain and stress early on in their lives.

 

Great job with the shop owner and the pamphlet!

 

great job oneidkat!!!!

 

Does anyone know if Pink Rasboras are dyed? they look like harlequins, but very pink

 

I commend you on following through with your resolve to confront the shop owner.

Much the same thing happened to me, going to a shop I respected just to find dyed fish. I spoke to the shop "manager", I thought was the owner, and was informed that those decisions were made by "her mother, the actual owner", well I must admit, I left and didn't follow through, or make any more of a fuss....they are one of only 3 shops in the entire state that is worth going to, (one petco I don't even count), and one of only two that carry bio-spira! and the only one that carries eco-complete. It just stinks!

You never know even in a case like that if you have made an impression, I have never seen dyed fish in there again, but plan to check it out now that it is valentines day around the corner. That and Easter seem to be the times that this is most prevalent.

You know they have done the very same thing to chickens, and rabbits for years, and people never did feel it was bad.....I guess just coloring the feathers or fur didn't seem so harmful. I think though since we all know artificial coloring can cause cancer, it would stand to reason that even these practices should be banned.

 

There is a pink/red rasbora with black spots, the Dwarf (Spotted) Rasbora. Is this them: ?

Does anyone know if Pink Rasboras are dyed? they look like harlequins, but very pink

 

Wow the pamphlet you put together is really impressive....I just goes to show that anyone can make a difference if we just suck up our fear and try. I believe your use of tact helped as well. I am very proud of you...and once again today my LS impressed me as well I saw a fish and the quick glance I gave it in the light looked really bright and I was like is that a dyed fish? My eyes got real big and my jaw must have just about dropped to the floor..The guy looked like he was seriously ofended and was oh no you won't find and died or hormone injected fish in this store...And then I mentioned the bettas in little cups...again...(even though I know there is not much they can do about that)...I really love that store though..anyways..what you did was really great and I wish more people would stand up to the man like that

 

There is a pink/red rasbora with black spots, the Dwarf (Spotted) Rasbora. Is this them: ?

Similar but they have the triangle instead of spots. Maybe they are a cross of these and Harlequins. Those are pretty though!!

 

Wow! Good for you. Luckily, it sounds like you are dealing with an owner who might actually stick to his word and keep them in the tank. I respect you for going in there and telling him off because I don't know if I would have the courage to do it. Well done!

 

It's been almost 2 weeks and the 'coloured tetra' are still in the display tank and it seems Mr Fishman is really keeping up his end of the bargain! As for the pamphlet-well I can't take the credit... I sourced the information online but it was very handy to have it as back up...

 

Good going, hopefully he's learned something and won't participate in the trade of tortured fish again.

 

I own 4 of those colored skirt tetra, and am now shocked to find out that they are in fact dyed! I read an article once on them and it said it was a natural hybrid of the black and white skirt tetra! I feel awful now, but they have been alive for five years now, and at least they are happy and healthy (however no more for me).

 

Sounds like you've taken good care of them. I'm glad they found a good home.

 

good job

 

Well done I do have to say one thing that the fishstore deserves seriuos credit for doing that sounds like a store that id love to have

 

I own 4 of those colored skirt tetra, and am now shocked to find out that they are in fact dyed! I read an article once on them and it said it was a natural hybrid of the black and white skirt tetra! I feel awful now, but they have been alive for five years now, and at least they are happy and healthy (however no more for me).

I have read a similar artical recently while I was sourcing info about dyed fish. Apparently there is a blue and pink variety that has been produced naturally. It's not actually a hybrid but a derivitive bred from the white skirt tetra which was developed from the Black Skirt Tetra. According to the artical anyone purchasing should ask if it's natural or dyed because they look very much alike. I swear everyone who owns a dyed fish had no idea WHAT it was they were buying so part of me thinks we shouldn't be held accountable for our ignorance... BUT I found it much nicer when the guilt trip ended after speaking to the owner...