Blacklights - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

**QTOFFER** · 08-13-2004, 01:56 AM

Frshwaterfinatc, the glofish were not injected with anything toxic and their lifespan is the same as normal zebrafish- they were genetically modified in the lab.
I think you're confusing them with painted or 'dyed' fish that do lose their color over time and die horribly from the coloring process.
You are right in saying that they are sterile - that trait was also genetically engineered by the company that created them so that they wouldn't have to deal with competition from unauthorized breeders.

frshwaterfinatc · 08-13-2004, 02:06 AM

Consider me corrected... what you've said is true. It's also possible my store had the fishes names confused, I guess... because it was like clockwork... we'd get a shipment in, and if they weren't sold by about the third month, they'd die off. I do trust the man who told me why (the owner's brother) but anyone can make mistakes or be mislead.
So consider me corrected, what I posted previously is void! Sorry about that.

QuietDusk · 08-13-2004, 02:44 AM

Wooooow. I want fish that glow! Too bad I can't get any of those danios. Oh, well. My fish are glowing w/o any special lights! (No, they're not radioactive. They're just so pretty and iridescent!)

madasafish · 08-13-2004, 11:26 AM

QTOFFER, you're right about everything except the sterility...

I deal with these glofish in a tank I upkeep. They have been reproducing like crazy! However, the young seldom make it past a few days, as the parents eat them (same deal as with all zebra danios). The company did not breed them to be sterile. However, you may *not* sell any babies that are produced in your tanks, as the fish is patented.

In the opinion of the manufacturer/breeder, these fish present no threat to danios in the wild, and the fact that they are brighter and glow just means they'll be weeded out more quickly than their natural counterparts. [acronym:681e29ee97="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:681e29ee97], that's a terrible way to look at it, but it doesn't seem like transgenic organisms are going to be stopped any time soon in this country, at least.

fmontes · 07-23-2005, 02:58 AM

hi, from all the repplies i have reed, no ona has actually done to their fishes? can some one tell if he or she has ised blacklght and how do his fishes look?

Toirtis · 07-23-2005, 03:13 AM

I have seen it done....a tank with a black background, black gravel, a combination of glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent artificial plants and glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent artificial decorations and several fluorescent 'painted' glassfish......it was...disturbing.

Zezmo · 07-23-2005, 02:28 PM

When I first set up my main tank I ran a blacklight at night. Since I have no dyed or altered fish I really didn't see any special glowing from the fish. Most just looked "dark". I did however at that time have some plastic decorations which looked real nice at first (later algae, and "cleaning" left them less impressive). Also, I added sprinkling of some flouresent gravel. That looked real cool. I did this for about 3 months, there seemed to be no ill effect on my fish. Most of the same fish from that time are still in one or another of my tanks.

08-13-2004, 11:26 AM	#14
madasafish Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NY, NY Posts: 2,260 Images: 73	QTOFFER, you're right about everything except the sterility... I deal with these glofish in a tank I upkeep. They have been reproducing like crazy! However, the young seldom make it past a few days, as the parents eat them (same deal as with all zebra danios). The company did not breed them to be sterile. However, you may not sell any babies that are produced in your tanks, as the fish is patented. In the opinion of the manufacturer/breeder, these fish present no threat to danios in the wild, and the fact that they are brighter and glow just means they'll be weeded out more quickly than their natural counterparts. [acronym:681e29ee97="In my opinion"]IMO[/acronym:681e29ee97], that's a terrible way to look at it, but it doesn't seem like transgenic organisms are going to be stopped any time soon in this country, at least. __________________ [acronym:3ff24413a5="Malaysian Trumpet Snails or Multiple Tank Syndrome, depending on context"]MTS[/acronym:3ff24413a5] is a blessing, not a disease.

07-23-2005, 02:58 AM	#15
fmontes Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: san jose costa rica Posts: 1	hi, from all the repplies i have reed, no ona has actually done to their fishes? can some one tell if he or she has ised blacklght and how do his fishes look? __________________ Folo

07-23-2005, 03:13 AM	#16
Toirtis Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,768	I have seen it done....a tank with a black background, black gravel, a combination of glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent artificial plants and glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent artificial decorations and several fluorescent 'painted' glassfish......it was...disturbing. __________________ G. A. Christian Bilou, Zoologist/Writer Founder/Director, Reptile Rescue Alberta Vice-President, Calgary Aquarium Society www.calgaryaquariumsociety.com Polypterid/Primitive Fish/Ctenopoma/Catfish Fanatic 62 Aquariums, 2200+ total gallons, Aquarist since 1971.

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08-13-2004, 01:56 AM	#11
QTOFFER Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kew Gardens, NY Posts: 3,701 Images: 30	Frshwaterfinatc, the glofish were not injected with anything toxic and their lifespan is the same as normal zebrafish- they were genetically modified in the lab. I think you're confusing them with painted or 'dyed' fish that do lose their color over time and die horribly from the coloring process. You are right in saying that they are sterile - that trait was also genetically engineered by the company that created them so that they wouldn't have to deal with competition from unauthorized breeders.

08-13-2004, 02:06 AM	#12
frshwaterfinatc Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Central US Posts: 380 Images: 10	Consider me corrected... what you've said is true. It's also possible my store had the fishes names confused, I guess... because it was like clockwork... we'd get a shipment in, and if they weren't sold by about the third month, they'd die off. I do trust the man who told me why (the owner's brother) but anyone can make mistakes or be mislead. So consider me corrected, what I posted previously is void! Sorry about that.

08-13-2004, 02:44 AM	#13
QuietDusk Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: So Cal, USA Posts: 34	Wooooow. I want fish that glow! Too bad I can't get any of those danios. Oh, well. My fish are glowing w/o any special lights! (No, they're not radioactive. They're just so pretty and iridescent!)

07-23-2005, 02:28 PM	#17
Zezmo Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,112 Images: 14	When I first set up my main tank I ran a blacklight at night. Since I have no dyed or altered fish I really didn't see any special glowing from the fish. Most just looked "dark". I did however at that time have some plastic decorations which looked real nice at first (later algae, and "cleaning" left them less impressive). Also, I added sprinkling of some flouresent gravel. That looked real cool. I did this for about 3 months, there seemed to be no ill effect on my fish. Most of the same fish from that time are still in one or another of my tanks.