Fishy question

Setun

Hey, just a quick question about glow-in-the-dark fish - or bioluminescent fish to refer to them correctly. I'm just researching the Glofish controversy in the United States and am curious if there are any common naturally bioluminescent fish available from pet stores?

For anyone who doesn't know about glofish, they are a type of zebrafish genetically modified originally to detect levels of pollution in Singapore waters but then were acquired by a US company for commercial sale (hence the catchy typo. :rolleyes: )

ValerieR

This subject was discussed on another fish keeping forum : http://www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/option,com_fireboard/Itemid,28/func,view/catid,5/id,12468/
Hope this helps in your research.

ValerieR
www.irishfishkeepers.com

Fishyfreak

As far as I know the sale of "Glo-fish" is banned in Ireland unlike the sale of Dyed fish which should be too.

I believe they are banned under Eu Legislation Re: GM animals.

Also see our site "The Leinster Fishkeeping Society":

www.irishfishforum.com

Setun

Thanks folks, it is a controversial subject I know. For the record I think "producing" animals for ornamental purposes is obscene - yet it doesn't really surprise me. :mad:

Jimkel

The company responsable for this fish is Taikong Corporation of Taiwan. They also developed the flowerhorn, and parrotfish. The fish is a GM zebra danio.

There are no naturally bioluminescent fish available in the pet trade in Ireland unless you manage to get a hold of some rare marine fish, There are a few more common invertabrates. I have seen "Disco fish" available in pet shops, aswell as dyed parrot fish, but no bioluminescent fish.

A very common issue that is far more severe is the importation of fish which are hormone fed, meaning that they achieve adult colouration while still young. This also causes all fish to turn male, and develop health problems. Anyone ever wondered why the fish was stunning in the shop and lost all it's colour after a week or 2 in your tank?? Very common in Cichlids imported from certain wholesalers I do not wish to name.

Jimkel

Daddio wrote: »

Thanks folks, it is a controversial subject I know. For the record I think "producing" animals for ornamental purposes is obscene - yet it doesn't really surprise me. :mad:

I agree however you must take into account that some breeds of dogs, all ferrets, all Koi and goldfish and several other popular pets are "man-made" having not existed in the wild in their current form. I do not disagree with selective breeding per se but I do disagree with playing god by genetically modifying animals.;)