interest in glowing cichlids

[searcyb]

After reading all that I have had the chance to read today this topic seems to bring about two areas of concern... The first being the moral and ethical response to genetically altering any fish from their natural state... and Two being the "monitary" gain that viscoius may or may not be trying to achieve.

While I have no interest in seeing my fish or my tank glow at night I do see the potential for people to want this. From a purely scientific standpoint it would be amazing to be the first person to make a blue or green cichlid. However, just by creating the technology to alter these fish doesn't mean that you are going to prevent people from dying fish anywhere in the near future.

Another thing, poeple will buy these fish and introduce them into their aquariums at home, probably with fish of the same species. What is to say that they would not interbreed and cross the genes? This would increase the number of fish that are bioluminescent. My point here is that no matter what is done to try and prevent the spread of genetic alterations of a species there is always someone who screws it up for everyone else... (i.e the Jurassic Park references)

It is not morally or ethically right for one person to try and change the breed of a fish... However, people have been doing it for centuries and more than often the new animals have been a benifit to the world. (ie. look at some of the dogs that we have in the world today) I am not going to tell you what to do, but think of the ramifications of your actions. If it is something that can truely benefit the "good of all cichlids" then go ahead. But if it was intended for them to glow at night they would produce the protiens themselves.

As for the monitary issue, no matter what your intentions are you will be making at least enough money to cover your expenses. But the potential to make a lot of money is there comming from all of the publicity that you will be recieving.

 

[i8a224u]

I dont believe you need to mess with nature, as fish that are tampered with tend to be more sickly, and usually will not retain thier artificial coloring too long and will not breed. there are enough beautiful fish that occour in nature. why not use your skills to breed an expensive chiclid so that you can help bring the price down. ie frontosia, zebra pleco, ect..

 

[Micky_Fahaka]

Dying or tampering with fish is just wrong, surely fish keepers love fish for what they are without making em glow or dance and sing.....just isnt right!!!

 

[TheUnhappiest]

Dude that so F****D up! Leave those poor fishes alone. There's already enough bastards making money off of f**king with fishes colors.

 

[guppy]

I do not approve of hybrids and blue dempseys pose no possible threat to the wild population of fish because it is a "recessive trait brought on by selective breeding".If a blue dempsey where released into the wild and managed to mate with another fish it would only create regular dempseys and the gene would be recessive once again.


You are doing this for one reason to make money or you wouldn't be seeing who is willing to "buy" them.

We will never agree on this subject that is for sure if you want to go fiddle with centuries of evolution for monetary gain be my guest but please do not be so arrogant as to claim you are helping the fish.

If you didn't want my opinion you shouldn't have asked for it in an open forum

these are worse

 

[guppy]

Have you seen Jurassic park. I know it's not real. But the theory was that the Dino's would not reproduce because it was controlled and as evolution even with out this movie has proved is you like the Dr. on the movie are wrong in your projection that they would not be breedable.. How would you garauntee that? How would you mass produce?

On top of that if you no the way people are, you know they will buy your genetically mutated fish no matter what . So why ask the fish keepers that care about their natural and inbred and mixed specie fish.

If you choose to due this you will indeed make allot more than your obviously afraid of losing. If your looking for approval.. It's inside of you. You can do it. You just need to believe for yourself that it's right. Not for us to make you beleive.

If you invent it they will buy it. It's the American way!! LOL

Triploid genes cause infertile adults, could a mutation slip by, maybe, but triploid grass carp are used by the millions and they have not reproduced yet.
Even if a breeding strain was produced, so what, there is a reason that shallow water bioluminescant fish are so rare, the same reason for the rarity of albinos, they get eaten first, it is like carrying a big glowing sign that says dine here.

 

[guppy]

Read the whole thread people,
these are sterile fish with genetic modifications, not dyes, not tatoos, not mutilations, and as for sickly fish, this is the same technique that is used in beef cattle to increase meat production without steroids and melons that resist mosaic virus.
I still would not buy them because I like the natural look but please don't just give a knee jerk reaction, give a reasoned one based on the information available.

 

[shoefreak03]

i dont think why people need to alter anything to make this hobby any better. there are many different types of fishes out there and they come in variety of colors and size for you to choose and guarantee there are thousands more fishes out there we have not yet discovered.

why make glowing fishes??? it is purely for profit; the same reason why people would tattoo fishes with colors and words or cut off their tails cause some people who may not know anything about fishes think they are so cute and have to have one.

you can say it is not for profit but even in the first post you asked if people who buy these because it will cost you thousands to set up. would you still do it if no one would buy them???

i see no valid reason for this. if your going to do this, then why stop there. why not make dogs glow so we can see them are at night, they would make excellent watch dogs to keep unwanted people out of our yards. why not just start cutting off pair of their legs so dogs will learn to walk up right.

But to answer your initial question, sadly yes, i do believe people will buy them.

 

[johno27]

I thought my reasons where fairly well thought out and explained. I still have not heard WHY he wants them to glow other than to sell them.

 

[ewurm]

Have you tried other places besides Africa and SA/CA? I hear there is a great species in Russia called the Chernobyl Cichlid, and it glows along with everybody there.