How does a Magician make a gold fish disappear? Using acid

Magus (Israel) Cagliostro, a magician who never pulled a rabbit out of a hat, reveals the truth behind the abuse of animals in magic shows including trimming the wings of pigeons, electric shocks to chickens and pins inserted into live fish

Magus (Israel) Cagliostro|Published: 05.30.07 , 18:12

I stopped using animals in my act over a decade ago. Initially my wife asked that give away the pigeons I had in a white cage before the birth of our first born. Then thanks to the campaigns of animal rights organizations, I stopped using animals completely. Nowadays I promote animal rights to the new generation of magicians and to my clients. Doing so I found that the children agree with me while the parents don't really care, as long as they get their money's worth.

I have no idea who thought about pulling a bunny out of a hat but I do know why using pigeons became so popular. Pigeons are small, fragile and quiet and they don't bite. Yet when they spread their wings, they look spectacular creating a similar effect of colorful silk fabrics. That resemblance was at the root of a trend which swept through magic shows as colorful pigeons were the rave – dyed with paint mixed into their drinking water.

Most people don't know that in order to prevent a pigeon from flying, its wings must be trimmed regularly. In itself, trimming of the wings does not cause pain to the bird but I am sure that when it tries to take off it fells the effect of the deed deeply. In my youth I preferred to train the pigeons to sit quietly. It worked pretty well. The pigeons, attracted to the lit stage, did rarely fly towards the audience sitting in the dark.

Magic or plain cruelty?

The fate of canaries is even worse; as a part of the disappearing act they are passed through a "grinder" in the form of a folding metal cage. Yet the most horrible magic involves gold fish: The magicians presents the fish swimming in a bowl, covers it with a scarf and the fish is gone. How'd he do that? Well, using potent transparent acid which consumes the fish in split seconds.

I must not forget the chicken dancing in the cage (its bottom heated or electrified, leaving the chicken no choice but to hop around); "trained" fish that swim in the direction the magician point to (you'll do that too if a metal pins was inserted into your body and the magician holds a magnet), and more.

Fortunately for some of the animals, synthetic substitutes were invented. It's cheaper to use one of these then having to buy new canaries every day. So, please, next time you invite a magician to entertain the kids at their birthday party, make sure no animals will be used.