[Killietalk] RE: Designer Killies (Not that you needed anotheropinion on this but what the heck!)

["Brown, Diane" <Brown_D at kids_wustl.edu>]

Color variants for me are a matter of personal preference, since at least in aquarium life they don't impair the basic functions of the fish:  I happily keep a gorgeous pair of goldfish, who are fancy colored in contrast to the parent carps, but they look like fish rather than grapefruit with wings.  I think color variants in Killies are a little silly insofar as there are already so many gorgeously varied natural varieties that I can't understand why we need any more.  But at least these variants are fundamentally harmless to the well-being of the fish.

I draw the line at distorted body shapes associated with dysfunctional internal organs, poor swimming ability, and shortened lifespans.  Even though I may find occasional individuals (fancy goldfish or pug dogs) so ugly they're cute (in  a sick way), when they're so distorted that it impairs their survival, I find them on the whole deeply disturbing.  

--Diane Brown in St. Louis

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