beware of dyed corals

[morepunkthanewe]

Just wanted to relate that many types of corals both hard and soft are being dyed with artificial colors and probably sold at your local fish store. Just recently I have seen "rare yellow flowerpot" corals. And I have seen bright purple finger leathers. To me this seems like quite an insult to us as reef keepers. We do everything in our power to research and learn the needs of these animals only to be sold dyed corals without our knowledge. I thought I had left the era of painted glassfish and "blueberry tetras", when I started reef keeping. Anyway, just a heads up if you see some unusual colored corals at your LFS.

 

[Len]

The reason for lack of replies is probably because this topic has already been discussed in several previous threads.

Yes, the dye will attenuate usable radiation and inhibit photosynthesis. If the host specimen is healthy, the coral will probably live just fine after the dye has been exported from its cells through natural mechanisms. However, the stress of rigorous long-distance shipping may complicate things.

 

[morepunkthanewe]

I can't believe that no one on this board has anything to say about this subject...

 

[Ph]

Yeah, seen flower pots bright yellow, and over 6 colors of colts, kinda sad. Just guessing but wouldnt the dye block the light to the zoolanth and cause an early death?


Ph