GLO Cichlid mutants?

[Bojan Dolenc]

Taiwan's Council of Agriculture unveiled last week that it has successfully bred transgenic Convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) and Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) that fluoresce, in collaboration with the Academia Sinica (Taiwan's national research academy).

See article:
Fluorescent cichlids produced in Taiwan

Damn it! I am sure this is immoral, even perverse, disgusting misuse/abuse of those majestic fishes - cichlids. Who for the Evil One needs those mutants? What a shame!

[Bas Pels]

I'm so happy these things are banned in the European community

All possession is prohibited. I heard a petshop in the UK was raided for possession of 100 glowing Brachydanio rerio.

But still, who is the evil brain producing this?

[Lisachromis]

There's just no words.....

[Philippe Burnel]

Yeees, really nice !!!
I love this so much, very usefull for christmas tree.
No more need of tinsel....

[Bas Pels]

@ Philippe

Good idea - as the chrismas tree will be standing above water

[James Shingler]

I'm so happy these things are banned in the European community

All possession is prohibited. I heard a petshop in the UK was raided for possession of 100 glowing Brachydanio rerio.

But still, who is the evil brain producing this?

The ban is accidental (GM animals are banned here) and not to do with cichlid health or protection.
Sadly examples of real crulety to cichlids (die injected inc flouresent dies, extreem line bred fish, highly selected mutant lines etc) can be imported and sold here legally in the UK/European community.

Funny realy a raid on Glo Zebra danios that I guess cause no harm to anyone.
I tend to wonder where the victim is in "crimes".
I guess in this case the shop owner who lost money and the fish that were no dought destroyed.
Where is the victim in flouresent cichlids being sold legaly?
Is my revulsion just a emotional thing?
I guess yep I am glad I will not see these in my LFS but then that is cold comfort when I see what else is being sold there.

As to the brain behind em.
Erm given in the first poste?
Taiwan's Council of Agriculture in collaboration with the Academia Sinica (Taiwan's national research academy).
Interesting that no individuals seem to want to take the credit for this?

All the best James

[Dan Woodland]

Yet another poor decision to create another fish abomination by the “manufacturers”. There is a reason these things don't occur in nature. If they were meant to be there would be plenty in the wild.

[illustrator]

There is a very puzzling sentence:

However, approximately one more year of field tests is needed (scheduled for completion at the end of 2011) to ensure that the cichlids would not have adverse effects on the natural environment.

Considering the success of convicts to survive and reproduce at thermal springs, I am CERTAIN that convicts can have adverse effects on the natural environment, whenever introduced in a tropical country. REGARDLESS IF THEY ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED OR NOT! Actually, I would expect that the genetically modified one might be less problematic than the "normal" ones (glo zebra danio's have reduced growth and smaller adult size compared to "normal" zebra danios).