blood red parrot - mixed info

[santiago]

I have 2 BP and they dont fight, they are always together and follow each other all the time. I also keep cories with them and they dont even look at the cories.

 

[Srenaeb]

I still think they're super adorable, and their temperment would make possibly the greatest fish I can ever hope to own.

But my main concern is that the people who breed them are also the same people who tattoo gawdy floral patterns onto them, inject them with dye, cut off tail to create "heart-shapes"...etc. Also, that because of the really cute mouth and spine defect, which impacts their digestive system and bladders, they can't expect to live as long or as healthily as normal cichlids.

While I agree that selecting cosmetic traits that please us is fine, (as with our cats and dogs, foods/flowers/pretty much everything), I feel saddened by the realization that these little dudes are actually handicapped/mutilated for our pleasure.

.....I realise I'm being a little hypocritical, because no matter how much I think I may "care" and love my fish, I'm still keeping them in a small, artificial environment...

It's a complex issue, and I certain understand and feel for either side.

 

[kazvorpal]

I still think they're super adorable, and their temperment would make possibly the greatest fish I can ever hope to own.

But my main concern is that the people who breed them are also the same people who tattoo gawdy floral patterns onto them, inject them with dye, cut off tail to create "heart-shapes"...etc. Also, that because of the really cute mouth and spine defect, which impacts their digestive system and bladders, they can't expect to live as long or as healthily as normal cichlids.

I have never seen artificially tattooed cichlids.

Are you sure you're not thinking of marble mollies? It's a very similar situation...

 

[Srenaeb]

I have never seen artificially tattooed cichlids.

please scroll to the very end
http://cichlidresearch.com/parrot.html
=(

perhaps our science will improve and one day we will have healthy, happy parrots for sale everywhere~

 

[Jill-O]

While I've seen the dyed and tattooed Blood Parrots held out as examples of what to avoid online, I have not ever seen any for sale. These are some of mine... some are the "red" color and some are grey-beige and off-white (but will possibly turn red). While I've never been in the market for any dyed or tattooed fish, if I were, I wouldn't know where to find them. I've only seen "regular" blood parrots when shopping:

 

[kazvorpal]

please scroll to the very end
http://cichlidresearch.com/parrot.html
=(

perhaps our science will improve and one day we will have healthy, happy parrots for sale everywhere~

The author is against "man-made" hybrids of ANY KIND.

What makes them different than hybrids in the wild?

If I take pollen from watermint, and pollinate a spearmint plant, I will get peppermint.

Why is that worse than if the wind, or honeybees, create the peppermint in what amounts to exactly the same way?

If, over the course of the millenia, heros severus and amphilophus citrinellus encountered each other in the wild and crossbred, why's that OK, but when humans do it, it's bad?

In the real world, humans are as natural as anything else. When termites build a mound, or a sun creates uranium, it's no more "natural" than when humans build a house, or create plutonium.

 

[blue2fyre]

Hybrids(of animals) in the wild are extremely rare.

the article is very biased though, they even admit they are against made made hybrids.

I personally don't like them but I understand that many people do like them. While I don't like parrots I do like many varieties of goldfish that look the same. So I feel I can understand the appeal. I still think the REAL parrot cichlid is a much more attractive fish.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I had a terrible time keeping them in the beginning becasue our water is so very rock hard 800 PPM Cal/Mag. But after some trial and error living here for 5 years finally worked that out a formula and now I keep five total, 2 BP/Convict super hybrids that wont grow past a 4 inches and keep their orange and with no mouth deformities and 3 regular BP's with the common mouth deformities that grow huge and fade out.

I was recommended that the Blind Cave Tetra (BCT) makes a really good tank mate and they do as the parrots mostly stay in their caves and the BCT almost exclusively stays in the middle of the tank never bothering one another.

The only trait I hated about the BP was their extreme shyness when new which seem to last for months. But I discovered that by initially placing two large orange comets in the tank really help brake the BP's shyness thinking that the large comets where unafraid BP's, after-which about 2 weeks I removed the orange comets.

 

[thorpbrian]

I have two paired BPs that lay eggs on a regular basis (I know they're sterile but they seem to have a grand time trying anyway). I keep them in a 55 with a juvie uaru cichlid and 3 pictus cats. Beyond their initial shyness they are great fish. Mine will actually eat out of my hand and come out to greet anyone that they recognize in my family. Between them and the uaru my 55 is bustling with personality.

 

[Srenaeb]

The only trait I hated about the BP was their extreme shyness when new which seem to last for months. But I discovered that by initially placing two large orange comets in the tank really help brake the BP's shyness thinking that the large comets where unafraid BP's, after-which about 2 weeks I removed the orange comets.

that sounds super cute =D
hearing about these littler dudes and how lovable they are makes me very happy =)