Painted fish

[4] Introduction of genes for fluorescent pigments, derived from corals and jellyfish, results in permanent colouration that is also passed on to offspring, without the need to inject or physically modify the fish themselves.

Aquarium fish genetically modified to fluoresce in bright colours under white or ultraviolet light are now available commercially, under the trade name GloFish.

In more recent times (2004-2005), injection dyed albino Plecostomus and rift lake cichlids have also become available.

For example, the British publication Practical Fishkeeping started a campaign in 1996 to ask retailers to stop selling dyed fish, which led to a significant decrease in the number sold in the United Kingdom.

Practical Fishkeeping has launched a similar campaign with a global scope and maintains a register of stores which do not stock dyed fish.

[9] The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) regards the practice as cruel and unnecessary cosmetic mutilation.

Painted Parambassis ranga specimen. A needle was used to inject the pink dye in this example.
Painted blood parrot cichlids