The diff between BP's and Jelly Beans?

[scholar]

How physically, color, and size, and temperment are the BP's and Jelly Beans differ as a jeuvenile and grown up?

Pics are appreciated. :)

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

What do you mean.... whats the difference between BP's and jelly beans?

Or how does each of them change as they mature?

[scholar]

When I am looking at a two-incher, How would I know if it a BP or a Jelly Bean (cross between BP and a convict)?

When I am looking at a three incher, How would I know if it a BP or a Jelly Bean?

When I am looking at a four incher, How would I know if it a BP or a Jelly Bean?

When I am looking at a five incher, How would I know if it a BP or a Jelly Bean?

When I am looking at a six incher, How would I know if it a BP or a Jelly Bean?

The things I see are color, shape, and temperment. So what are the diff between the two on these or bases. :)

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Since "Jelly Beans" are most of the time dyed artificial colors, I would highly suggest not getting one. That would be supporting this cruel treatment of animals....

Its gonna be pretty easy to spot a dyed fish as opposed to a non-dyed fish, if thats what you were worried about. However when these fish get large (although they often dont reach much more than 4" due to the dying process) the color fades and it may become more difficult to tell them apart. In which case, I just wouldnt buy the fish. Avoid ones that 'look suspicous'.

From what I've seen, the shape is pretty much the same. Temperment I have no clue, since no one I know would willingly keep a jelly bean....

;)
-Diana

[scholar]

Assuming neither is dyed. How owuld I know which am I looking at? :)

Are there any pics of them? What is the max size of them?

[tuthelimit]

You are asking an impossible question, but I will attempt to shed light on it. Blood Parrots as you know as sort of a mystery in the hobby, obviously they are an odd looking hybrid with various traits of different cichlids. That being said, most blood parrots start out an odd brown color (mustard yellow, etc). As they grow they change into their adult coloration which is normally a red. Certain fish seem to stay smaller or larger depending on what exactly is in the cross. Considering convicts will breed with just about anything, it is of little suprise you mentioned "jelly beans" as being bred with convicts. However, the name jelly bean is in reference to the fish's color (dyed) green, blue, pink and yellow. So to find a "jelly bean" look for the small fish with bright colors. As to which fish will retain a small size its entire life... that is a mystery.

Hope that helped.
Rich

[tuthelimit]

I went to an small lfs today that was selling "jelly beans" they looked like little pink convicts, similar in color. The female had a very distinct orange coloration as well. So they had some convict in them for sure, what else.. not too sure.

[fish_breeder_05]

considering that they are not dyed, jelly beens will take on the coloration of there father (convict) be it pink or striped. they will have a "beak" but it will not be as great as the BP, same thing goes for the ballon effect ( I think I speak for us all that like BPs that a ridiculous amount of expansion to the stumache can ruin a BP apperince wise.) as far as size goes both can be dwarfed if kept in a small disply tank. Iwould like to point out that some will take young pure convict and dye them to try and pass them off as jelly beens.

[scholar]

Fish_breeder_5 hi,

thanks for the info. Is there a site that I can read up on them or see the pics of either?

Are red parrots as hardy as convicts? My firnd gave me two 5 inchers. They are pure light red. So is it safe to assume that theya re BP's, even though they have maxe dout at 5"?

Lastly, their gills do not close fully and it looks like that they breath hard. There are some red strings hanging out. Does this mean they are sick now? they were part of colony of 10 which were crammed in a 40G tank. they could hardly move. Though they are all now happier in a 60G and many have great red color, including the two that I got. Even one has a bit of hump like red devil! :)

Thanks,

PS: I have a hard time to feed them. They are with my jeuvenile africans which are fast. What kind of food do they like?

They are gorgeous and smart. I have to feed them by hand which is fun. But it is time consuming. I dread setting up another tank just for them!

By the way, this is my thread. So anyone who does not like BP's should not respond! :)

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

The gill issue sounds like gill flukes or something along those lines... does not really sound normal. You should look into fish dieseases and see if you can see anything similar.

Although, considering they are likely stunted and deformed from being crammed into a small tank with so many other fish and likely poor water conditions I would not be suprised if they have deformity issues that may be causing the gills not to close properly.

Its great for you to give these guys a bigger tank, but they really should have proper water conditions. The water chemistry for africans is different for that of blood parrots (pH 8.2+ for malawies), and also the diet. You should be feeding your malawis high spiraluna and veggie content and your BP's should have a higher protien diet (try frozen red blood worms, BUT NOT TO THE AFRICANS! if your malawies get any they will get the deadly 'malawi bloat'). Also, as your africans mature, they will become much too aggressive for the BP's and likely pick at them.

:)
-Diana

[tuthelimit]

Is there a site that I can read up on them or see the pics of either?

Google. But, I seriously doubt there is much information out there.


Are red parrots as hardy as convicts? My firnd gave me two 5 inchers. They are pure light red. So is it safe to assume that theya re BP's, even though they have maxe dout at 5"?

they were part of colony of 10 which were crammed in a 40G tank. they could hardly move. Though they are all now happier in a 60G and many have great red color, including the two that I got. Even one has a bit of hump like red devil! :)

What makes you think they are maxed out? It sounds like they were in some bad conditions. Remember, these fish have no solid facts attributed to them... they vary on a case by case basis. Again, jelly beans... are blood parrots... so I would assume unless you bought a goldfish, you have blood parrots.


PS: I have a hard time to feed them. They are with my jeuvenile africans which are fast. What kind of food do they like?

I dread setting up another tank just for them!

This isn't really responsible... are you ready for these fish?


By the way, this is my thread. So anyone who does not like BP's should not respond! :)

Selective listening...

[scholar]

Dear tuthelimit,

Thanks for your detailed questions. I was looking to detailed answers though! I also appreciated your ability to drill down into specific sentences and commenting on them. For brevity and since I am only interested in info on BP's, I skipped the reasons behind my sentences. :)

Here are the some of the reasonings behind your comments/soft questionings.

On "Being maxed out ...":

They all were bought at the same time more than 4 years ago. The others are 6-8 inches.

On "Are you ready ..":

I have four africaaner tanks, the baby's, the juvy's, the samll and the big one's tank. So there is no risk of any damage to any fish including the big BP's. My africaaners were selected for relative mildness after reviewing a couple of hundreds profiles. :)

On "This isn't really responsible..."

While I have stated that I dreaded seting up a seperate tank. It is perhaps a bit of "selective listening" to stretch it into this line of questioning.

Today, I already have returned one to my friend and in time will return the other. I can hand feed this one. The fact that I have acknowledged the difficulty of properly keeping the BP's far outways one statement of transitory emotions like of having experienced dread. :) :)

I already have found BP's to be smart, gorgeous, and inquisitive. There is a BP tank in my future. Though I am not a fan fish over 5 inches. Thus, the allure of these 5" BP's.

On "Selective listening..."

As human beings, at any moment, we are all at risk of what you call "selective listening..."

My comment was to protect the responder who softly have said that he likes BP's. And, I already have seen plenty threads which were rendered useless by flame throwers.


Your comments are in the form of soft questions. They are like a sophisticated version of flame throwing which I was trying to head off. :)

All I want is info on BP's! :) :) :)


I already have read plenty of articles about cross-breeding. I am actually against unscientific cross-breeding. Not because I think there are any threats to the fish's genes. Just because this kind of experimenting produces plenty of unwanted and ugly off springs with no place to live out their lives.

Cheers,

The Scholar

PS: Normally, I would skip your kind of soft questining. But, there were so many that I chose to answer them, even at the risk of ruining this thread. :)

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

I have four africaaner tanks, the baby's, the juvy's, the samll and the big one's tank. So there is no risk of any damage to any fish including the big BP's. My africaaners were selected for relative mildness after reviewing a couple of hundreds profiles. :)



:huh: Your risking damage to them from improper water conditions and improper diet.


I dont even know why I bother trying to help you anymore .... (actually all I care about is the fish).... :thud:

[derek681]

I think that it is wrong to keep any hybrid be it a blood parrot, jelly bean etc, it is wrong for people to mess with mother nature and produce these rediculous looking so called fish i feel very strongly about producing hybrids say for example someone had a tankful of BP's and they let them go into a lake and they bred and bred, only god knows what sort of impact that could have. So if you think i have a point please, please think twice about purchasing these fish. Sorry if anyone is offended by this but man has no right to hybridize any species. Cheers, Derek.

[fish_breeder_05]

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Cichlid,%20Red%20Parrot.htm

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Cichlid,%20Convicts%203.htm

[scholar]

To LuvMyKribs,

Since I have not stated what the water parameters are and what Do I feed the BP, how do you figure that I am damaging my fish! :)

I assure you that I am very responsible and none of my fish are at any risk. I have been keeping fish over 10 years and have read more than 100 articles on how to keep different fish.

Cheers,

[sumthin fishy]

Regardless of your water peramiters, having the fish you mentioned means one of the species are in water not suited for them. Diana deos not use the most tact when voicing her opinions, but her information is spot on. And 99% of the time I agree with everything she says. The way she is so adamant about giving this information shows her passion, knowledge and overall givacrapness in this hobby.There is no way your african species are going to be in the correct water type as your south americans, because they have different requirements and nothing is going to change that. The same goes for feeding, you have one type that needs high protein, and another that needs high veggi content, and will actually face health problems if too much protein is ingested.