Last week I was at a LFS that I go to pretty regularly. It's a very unique store with an outdoor pond area (where during the summer a collection of large lizards live in a pen), a HUGE indoor saltwater pond that houses a couple of sharks, a moray eel, 3 or 4 full grown lions and some groupers, and they always have a nice selection of fish and other pets. Plus, it's locally owned so I feel good supporting local businessmen and businesses (I still go to Petsmart and Petco too). I had never had a problem with the store until last week. I'd always seen a large tank they have with a bunch of Blood Red Parrots and Clown Loaches. I'd never taken a closer look until last week. Much to my surprise, in addition to the standard Parrot hybrids, they also had fish that had been dyed and some had even had their tails cut off! I'd seen a tattooed Giant Gourami at another store once before and had only seen pictures of these Parrots with their tails cut off. So now I have somewhat of a dilemma. What are the opinions of the ethics regarding this? I know that people have dogs tails and ears cropped. I grew up on a farm and we dehorned a few of our cows. There are lots of examples of animal body modifications, most of which I understand. Dehorning is a safety issue. Other alterations are for cleanliness and health, but cutting off a fishes tail? That would be like cutting off the legs of a dog or a cat. Wouldn't it? If that happened (to a dog or cat), PETA and other agencies would be all over the culprit, which they should. But no one seems to care, except for the seemingly, truly dedicated aquarist about these morbid fish alterations. Now I don't want to get the issues mixed up. I'm not talking about hybridization and selective breeding. That has been happening forever with people and our animals. So Flowehorns aren't part of this issue for me. My issue is with cutting off fish tails, tattooing, dyeing, etc. These aren't natural morphs and alterations that can be isolated in breeding. This is people altering animals for their own satisfaction. It isn't for safety, cleanliness, or health. Simply asthetics. I seriously doubt the fish enjoy living without their tails or the process of tattooing for example (Note: I have tattoos, but it was my choice to get them). So what do we do? Do we complain to the store owners? Only shop at stores that don't stock these fish? Of course as I am sitting here writing this I realize that someone might potentially bring up the issue of feeders and culling fry... I don't disagree with either of those. So am I simply being hypocritical? What are your thoughts?Thanks
Matt
