seething cauldern of debate

[killieskid]

My husband and I were looking at getting two blood parrots from our LFS for the 29g we're setting up, and I have learned to get on the internet and learn as much as I can about a fish we're thinking about getting ( I'm learning) anyway, I was a bit appalled by how they bred these fish and especially the dying thing. I read also that they are deformed from the way they are bred. I can imagine that these fish are a seething caulren of debate in the Cichlid world! let me know your thoughts

[Jayhawk]

Personally, I don't like them without the dye, and I especially don't like any fish to be dyed. I am also not a fan of cross-species bred fish...that's just not natural.

There are enough natural varities of fish out there. I don't so much mind breeding for certain traits (different colors for example, fin length), but overall I prefer the fish that look like they would if they came from the wild. However, that's just my opinion.

Eric

[UCF-Planted]

No kidding. This has been all over the board this last month or so. Bottom line: make your own decision. Dyeing is cruel, if you think fish feel pain. Hybrids are an abomination, if you are morally opposed to mankind "playing god". I think there's nothing wrong with hybrids if they are healthy and happy. I think that fish do feel pain and would never buy a dyed fish. Worst of all though, I think BPs are ugly :) This thread is probably going to open the whole can of worms again, but make your own decision based on what you think is right.

[severum mama]

Not all of them are dyed. Undyed juveniles are kind of mottled gray/striped looking. If you buy little gray juveniles, you can be sure that they are not dyed. However, I cannot recommend putting even one BP in a 29 gallon. They will quickly out grow that tank. I've had mine for a few years and they are now pushing 7 inches, and very bulky and messy. BPs in a 29 gallon really is not a good idea. I'd suggest at least a 55 gallon for 2.

[Dwarf Puffers]

Well, why bother get into a debate about hybrids when someone has just asked to put 2 10" fish in a 30g tank?

Sorry, but no matter how morally confusing this species is, there is no way a BP can live in a 30g tank. They each need a tank of atleast 75g, and they poop a LOT. they are also very, very tall and wide, so you'd basically have to treat them as small koi in a 75g. I would suggest Convicts, or Dwarf Cichlids instead of this, seeing as many kinds, although there are some bred with convicts so as they are properly formed, have trouble feeding with even slight competition, are dyed, have trouble swimming, are tattooed, and worst of all, have no tail fin...

If you think about it, BPs are the most misunderstood and abused creatures alive. Dyed, tattooed, stunted, crowded into small tanks, picked on by fish and people alike for being unnatural, and deformed, sometimes in the mouth, sometimes (and most horribly), tail-less. :eek3: :eek3: :eek3:

Plz get something that isnt a BP.

[severum mama]

They each need a tank of atleast 75g
That's not really true. Two could live comfortably in a 55 gallon. Trust me, I've been keeping them for years. You could even keep them in a 50 gallon (36"x18") as long as they were the only fish. Mine can easily compete with aggressive feeders for food, as can most other BPs. Any BP will likely never reach 10 inches, it's the "King Kong" parrots that attain this kind of size. You could probably plan on 8 inches max- but they still should never be kept, even singly, in a 29 gallon.

[killieskid]

Oh, I have no intention of getting them now! I feel badly for the fish, being deformed and dyed and tatoo'ed. I imagine they can have pretty neat personalities, but I won't be getting any. I just wondered what other people thought about them.

[severum mama]

My husband and I were looking at getting two blood parrots from our LFS for the 29g we're setting up
Ok, but it seemed like you were thinking about it, so I just wanted to warn you about tank size. :) You're right, they have great personalities. They were actually my first cichlids, and mine are nearly 5 years old now. They are not dyed or mutilated in any way. The open mouth thing causes them no problems, and they have no trouble swimming at all. Much of what you read about them online is just a bunch of myths.

[beefsteak]

I love Blood Parrots. I think they have the biggest personality of any fish I've ever encountered and are cute despite everyone else's bad taste here. ;)

That being said, I have no opinion one way or the other on hybrids and don't really want to start another debate on the subject. I am very much against the practice of dying/tattooing and I think their natural coloration is just gorgeous. And no, a 29 is NOT suitable for one let alone two. A 55 gallon at least.

[DeRo316]

Ive had a BP before, kind of like the dumb puppy of the litter IMO. Dying is cruel, so are injections/tattoos. For all the room they need Id rather have something different. They do have personality, but my oscar had just as much and was better to look at, more playful, and more fun to feed.

[Star_Rider]

Hybrid or cross breeding is not an abomination..it is an anomoly.

but it does happen in nature.

[jm1212]

an undyed blood parrot will be an orangish pink color when it is about 3½-4 inches long, any other color, like green, yellow, blue, purple, bright pink, are all dyed.

[severum mama]

Probably, but I've seen BPs that still haven't begun to change color at that size. It's different for each individual fish. I prefer to buy the gray juvies (not that I need any more!) because I've seen BPs that are dyed orange that look like the color that they will eventually change into, so that makes it difficult to know for sure if you are getting an undyed fish. :( The eyes are a dead giveaway; the ones that are dyed orange will have orange eyes as well. Undyed BPs have yellow and blue eyes.

[Rbishop]

I don't care for them personally. And as long as folks keep buying them, they will be available.

[Coler]

Insofar as its possible to hate a fish, personally I hate 'em.

[dbcb314]

I had one... look dumb as hell but they were a cool fish. Had cool personality.

I didn't have a dyed one though... just a good ol fashion bright orange color (like a red devil).

My mom is obsessed with them... she is the reason I got one and she wanted me to get another lol.