The Process Known as Painting or Juicing Tropical Fish

The process of painting started in the late 1970's with the Glass Perch (Chanda ranga or Chanda wolfii ) and was soon noticed by the aquarium keepers of the day, protests followed and it seemed that the process had been stopped. However in the late 1980's early 1990's the process started again but this time spread to many more species. The rather worrying fact is that most people who buy these modified tropical fish are totally unaware of the disgusting process involved to juice their tropical fish or are unaware that their tropical fish have been modified at all.

There is more than one method to alter the colour and appearance of tropical fish. Some are more barbaric than others but all have some significant health consequences. Coloring fish stresses them and makes them more susceptible to disease. Young fish that are not fully grown are often stunted by the painting process. The mortality rates are a staggering 80%. This process shows another example of man's disregard for nature and is obviously fueled by greed. The methods for painting are:-

1) Treated Food -

Fish, normally young fish are fed treated foods that will tint them. This dye certainly stunts their growth. Once these fish have been purchased and are no longer fed the modified food then their colour eventually fades.

2) Dye Injection -

Needles are used to puncture and inject dye under the skin, like a tattoo. This process can only colour a small area each time so fish will receive many, many injections to achieve the desired effect. The dye remains as liquid until the fish's immune system removes it. Many fish will succumb to other infections cause by the puncture wounds. The fish who survive this process will begin to lose their colour after six months. Only 10% of fish that survive this ordeal will keep their colour for any length of time.

3) Dipping in Dye -

If you thought injecting was barbaric then dying is even worse. The fish are bathed in a caustic solution that strips off their protective outer slime coating (mucoprotein coating), dipped or injected with dye and finally bathed in another chemical that stimulates re-growth of the slime coat. Again the fish undergo extreme stress and not surprisingly the death rate is very high. It is rumoured that foreign breeders have even offered to dye words or emblems onto fish with a laser.

The only real way to stop this despicable trade is to stop buying them and boycott any fish store that still supplies or offers to supply them. Always ask your dealer if the fish are painted or juiced before buying.

More information about tropical fish painting / tropical fish juicing and a list of the most common tropical fish painted can be found at The Process of Painting Fish [http://www.mytropicalfishworld.com/fish/tropical-fish-painting-juicing]. When buying fish try to prevent tropical fish diseases by selecting only healthy fish.

For all other tropical fish and aquariums information can be found at [http://www.mytropicalfishworld.com]