Parrot Cichlids

[karen99]

I saw some beautiful pink parrot cichlids today. I've never seen more adorable, surprisingly intelligent-looking fish. Now I'm aware of the controversy with parrots, but these fish did not appear to have any difficulty swimming and the babies anyway were very active, swimming all over their tank (there was one tank of adults, and one of tiny 1" babies).
I was wondering two things. First of all, I can't find any parrot fish that look quite like these guys. They were a beautiful soft pink color (and it looked natural, not as if they were dyed). I was wondering if anyone had an idea what they could be?
And second - could a baby parrot cichlid go in a planted community tank, or would it dig everything up and attack the other fish when it gets larger? Some places say they are aggressive to other fish, some say they are only aggressive to other cichlids.

 

[karen99]

I was looking, and I now think they are jellybean cichlids, which are supposed to be a blood parrot/convict cross and are smaller and healthier than blood parrots. I don't want to get dyed fish, though. They are a soft pink color, sort of the color of kissing gouramis. Is that a natural color or is it likely they have been dyed?

 

[raift]

from my understanding they are all man made fish (cross bread and sterile) but i like mine although he isnt dyed. he comes to the glass when im around and begs for food, pretty cool i think but you will find alot of people think they are freaks http://www.geocities.com/parrotcichlid/general.html this site has helped me some take a look. but like i said mine has a realy cool personality

 

[hurricanejedi]

I just saw them for the first time too at my lfs. I had the exact same question. They were very pretty and pink. But I plan on a very community tank with plants and don't want a giant fish that will eat everything (ie neons or cardinals). I don't know if they are dyed either.

 

[Marn]

the blood parrots are the natural man made ones.. the Jelly Bean parrots are the dyed ones that are pink and yellow and green and what other color they decide to inject into themnext .. and that i dont like ..i would just stick with the blood parrot ..

Marn

 

[fierce_sammiee]

my parrot fish

yes last year i had bought a lime green parrot fish from my pet store..i had her for a year and a half and she barley grew...to find out she was an injected one...i also have a large parrot i bought...is she a supposed real one and not injected...i heard that the injected ones stay small..and the real ones grow up to 10 inches