Now this is an exotic pet....

[TacoBud]

look at it this way, we as people get tattoos and wicked crazy piercings. I feel that if the animal is not harmed then its just another way of expression.

 

[Jessica Dring]

I knew it wasn't radiation, I was just refering to the hairlessness, but they are other abnormalities to the mice. I wonder if the fact that they are hairless (and what looks in some pictures, eyeless) was done so that you could see the skin. I am now going to look it up.

Either way thats animal abuse

Like has been mentioned, hairless mice existed way before this was done.
Infact hairless mice were not genetically altered by humans. Its a naturally occuring mutation. But yes, I believe they would have had to add the jellyfish gene to a hairless mouse to see it glowing.

At first glance, their skin looks pretty irratated. Not sure if it's anything to do with being genetically altered, but it's certainly not a good sign that the animals are not 100% healthy. I have owned hairless mice and their skin was always in tip top condition..none of the irratated looking sore skin that you see on these guys.

It's also clear the people are doing this are only in it for the $$$.
Mice don't hang out under UV lighting all say (or sunshine). They are prey to alot of animals and so hide away alot. So theres your first problem. People keeping these animals are going to have to keep these under strong UV lighting to see this, most will probably keep it on all day. This will more than likely damage their eyes if kept for prelonged periods in these conditions. The condition of the animals in the picure is questionable, I dread to think of the ones they didn't take pictures of.

In my person opinion, I disagree with any animal genetically altered by human beings. Most morphs of any animal is usually naturally occuring mutations. I believe there is a fine line in animal mutations of any kind. I will PERSONALLY support captive collections of natural occuring mutations that are not harmful to the animals, but I stop far off human gentically altered animals.


So to the person who said anyone owning goldfish supports this, I look after a tank full of goldfish my mum has. What are you saying, these are genetically altered? They are all just common goldfish or comets, and I was under the impression nothing like this was being done to them?


Either way, I wil shake my head in personal disgust at humanity if they start doing it to snakes, hamsters, and all the rest of it. It's bad enough doing it to mice.

 

[Louie]

Does anyone remember africanized honey bees (killer bees) . That worked out pretty well for everyone .

Thats very different than common mice .
Those were bee's that should have never been removed from Africa .

If the floursecent factor doesnt hurt the mice. If its gene splicing. I don't see anything wrong with it .

I see it better than half of the dog breeds or hairless,munchkin cats which to me are cruel.
The animals are at a disadvantage loaded with genetic problems.

Now if the mice are suffering in any way due to it than yes its cruel but it seems as harmless as the glo fish which have jellyfish gene in them (not to be confused with the cruel practice of "injecting " fish with fake colors).

I just ordered a few for us . lol kidding they aren't even available yet and not interested in mice but don't think its cruel.

 

[Louie]

Like has been mentioned, hairless mice existed way before this was done.
Infact hairless mice were not genetically altered by humans. Its a naturally occuring mutation. But yes, I believe they would have had to add the jellyfish gene to a hairless mouse to see it glowing.

At first glance, their skin looks pretty irratated. Not sure if it's anything to do with being genetically altered, but it's certainly not a good sign that the animals are not 100% healthy. I have owned hairless mice and their skin was always in tip top condition..none of the irratated looking sore skin that you see on these guys.

It's also clear the people are doing this are only in it for the $$$.
Mice don't hang out under UV lighting all say (or sunshine). They are prey to alot of animals and so hide away alot. So theres your first problem. People keeping these animals are going to have to keep these under strong UV lighting to see this, most will probably keep it on all day. The condition of the animals in the picure is questionable, I dread to think of the ones they didn't take pictures of.

In my person opinion, I disagree with any animal genetically altered by human beings. Most morphs of any animal is usually naturally occuring mutations.



So to the person who said anyone owning goldfish supports this, I look after a tank full of goldfish my mum has. What are you saying, these are genetically altered? They are all just common goldfish or comets, and I was under the impression nothing like this was being done to them?


Either way, I wil shake my head in personal disgust at humanity if they start doing it to snakes, hamsters, and all the rest of it. It's bad enough doing it to mice.

Couldn't you say lionhead -telescope eye,etc goldfish have been altered?

As are dumbo rats .

If these mice aren't suffering than I don't see it as a problem. They simply "glo in the dark".
Dont think the process used to do this has caused the mice any discomfort.

 

[Jessica Dring]

Couldn't you say lionhead -telescope eye,etc goldfish have been altered?

As are dumbo rats .

If these mice aren't suffering than I don't see it as a problem. They simply "glo in the dark".
Dont think the process used to do this has caused the mice any discomfort.

Good question Louie. I have no doubt some goldfish are altered by human beings (well, I bet quite a large percentage actually) but I'm talking about your average 'feeder' goldfish. No funny eyes, no funny tails or wacky colours. I believe some wacky looking goldfish are also completely natural. But TBH I wouldn't know which fish are and which fish aren't, hence my question. Again, our tank only has common 'feeder' goldfish (LOL our pets) and comets and such.

 

[Louie]

i think its pretty cool, genetically altered pets were inevitable and it dosent actually harm the mice so i see know wrong doing

-----------------
"it dosent actually harm the mice so i see know wrong doing"

I agree that's the key as long as it doesnt harm the mice.

To me things like fainting goats are worse. There are some not far from here and I sneek up on them and scream .

They than faint .
I am just goofing but IMO many of the animals we "modify" that cause the animal to have less than quality of life is worse.

Gloing in dark I dont see as anything cruel again unless it affects their life for the worse or the process causes discomfort in any way.

 

[ceeej31]

Good question Louie. I have no doubt some goldfish are altered by human beings (well, I bet quite a large percentage actually) but I'm talking about your average 'feeder' goldfish. No funny eyes, no funny tails or wacky colours. I believe some wacky looking goldfish are also completely natural. But TBH I wouldn't know which fish are and which fish aren't, hence my question. Again, our tank only has common 'feeder' goldfish (LOL our pets) and comets and such.

believe it or not, common goldfish arent really natural, they look the way they do today because they were selectively bred over thousands of years from crucian carp with unusually bright coloration

 

[fishbattery]

Gene splicing is actually a great technology. It has tons of beneficial applications such as insulin producing bacteria for diabetics. While i find these mice unappealing. I think it might help raise support for the application of gene splicing. In fact the most promising cure to HIV is a derivative of this process.

 

[Jessica Dring]

believe it or not, common goldfish arent really natural, they look the way they do today because they were selectively bred over thousands of years from crucian carp with unusually bright coloration

I can believe that.
We have 'normal' orange feeders. And selective breeding obviously plays a part.
But I personally believe that again, fine line between naturally occuring mutations and selective breeding that causes the animal no discomfort, to genetically altered animals.

Most captive bred pets people have on this forum are selectively bred. Whether for quality, colour, or both.

 

[Louie]

Good question Louie. I have no doubt some goldfish are altered by human beings (well, I bet quite a large percentage actually) but I'm talking about your average 'feeder' goldfish. No funny eyes, no funny tails or wacky colours. I believe some wacky looking goldfish are also completely natural. But TBH I wouldn't know which fish are and which fish aren't, hence my question. Again, our tank only has common 'feeder' goldfish (LOL our pets) and comets and such.

I know in UK your laws are tougher than here when it comes to what is acceptable as far as animal 'modification" which I think is great but just in this particular mouse case it seems like it might be much of nothing.

I can see if they inject them ,etc but seems like glo fish they are bred like that .