Your thoughts on genetically engineered pink angelfish

**Orion5** · 11-16-2012, 11:50 PM

Taiwanese scientists have engineered these pink angelfish. Aside from your color preferences, what are your thoughts on genetic engineering new aquarium fish?

**~firefly~** · 11-17-2012, 12:04 AM

Not really a fan as I look for natural looking tank set-ups. They do look frighteningly like dyed fish. I wouldn't know where to begin with the decor design to go with these little Frankensteins

An article on these fish said there was only a 1% success rate for this coloration. What happens to the 99% I wonder? Are they disposed of as "rejects"? This kind of thing, whilst the actual act of adding the colour to the eggs isn't harmful to the fish in itself, does raise ethical concerns about the byproducts of this industry. Who takes responsibility for all the unwanted ones?

**jeffs99dime** · 11-17-2012, 12:05 AM

I don't believe in messing with nature. There is a reason there weren't pink Angels before.

**Goes to 11!** · 11-17-2012, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by ~firefly~

An article on these fish said there was only a 1% success rate for this coloration.

If that is true, No matter what ones personal feelings are wrt the result.. You couldn't call it an efficient process.

Research required but I am unlikely to support something so wasteful.

**butterbean** · 11-17-2012, 12:13 AM

Ok I'm really going to sound corny and old fashion but I think God created beautiful fish in a vast array of colors and man should just leave them alone and stop killing them shooting them full of dye sorry was not meant to offend anyone just my opinion ....

**Goes to 11!** · 11-17-2012, 12:18 AM

I get your point but ... [If I understand the OP correctly] These are not dyed, They are colored via gene manipulation.

**butterbean** · 11-17-2012, 12:25 AM

My mistake .. But I still think it is unnecessary and wrong ..But I guess I should have kept my opinion to myself...

**Goes to 11!** · 11-17-2012, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by butterbean

But I guess I should have kept my opinion to myself...

Really? On a thread where opinions are being asked for? Relax

**Honey Badger 1** · 11-17-2012, 12:30 AM

Personally I will never understand the attraction of fish like this or glofish for anyone over the age of 8, I think they are unnatural and ugly. I will never understand why people can't be happy with the natural colors of fish. But, colored fish has become a huge industry and as long as people keep buying them, other people will keep creating them. I don't like line breeding for color or other trait as well because it makes them look unnatural and weakens the fish. We have also turned this beautiful fish...

Into this

Give me wild caught fish in their natural colors and shapes any day over all of the genetic alterations, whether it's manipulating genes, or line breeding, makes no difference to me.. it's all ugly.

**~firefly~** · 11-17-2012, 12:31 AM

Let's leave God out of it

Humans have been changing animals for thousands of years - the pure variety of pedigree dog breeds is testament to that. Doesn't make it "right" though...the ethics of changing nature. Can you rationally apply ethics to nature when nature is so violent and full of suffering? Are we part of nature or are we seperate to it? With the ability to empathise does it enhance or inhibit our objectivity? Interesting topic for a debate

...ok I'll stop now before I get into trouble.