Hello . . .

Today I went to the LFS to get a few fish for my newly setup 55. As I was
perusing my choices (not sure which way I wanted to go with this tank) I
found some small "jellybean" parrot cichlids. A few tanks down, there was
another tank with much larger, brightly colored "jellybeans".

I spoke with the sales attendant, who told me how the bigger ones were
brighter in color because they were "dyed" and explained the process to me .
.. . I was shocked to say the least. I thought this type of fish was very
cute, but there was no way I was going to purchase a fish that had gone
through that process.

When I asked him about the "small" ones (they were about the size of maybe a
..50 piece) - asking why they weren't as brightly colored as the larger ones
he told me "those parrots had been raised in the store" from a spawning of
the (larger ones) already there. They are not colored in the manner of
"Easter eggs" as were the bigger ones, they are more of a lightish/pastel
color . .. one is pinkish/peachish, one is yellowish and the other is
whitish with a bit of blue along the dorsal fin. So, figuring they hadn't
been exposed to the horrid "dying" process, I bought all three of them.

After arriving home and placing them into the tank I started researching
them. I am having a very hard time finding information on this type of fish.
I am however finding a lot of postings against these "hybrids".

So I guess I'm asking . . . did I make a bad decision in buying these fish?

Also, I was told that I could only have other cichlids in the tank with
these fish or a pleco. Now I know I've read before of people keeping (some
types) of cichlids with other types of fish . . . any suggestions on which
other types I can keep with them?

How large with these fish become? I was told four inches max, but after
research online I've read eight inches and sizes in between.

Are these the fish that as they get older won't be able to close their
mouths? (As I've mentioned I've been doing online reading and came across
something that mentioned this but am not sure it was in regard to these
fish).

Is there any way to "sex" these fish, I'm really curious as to whether I
have two males/one female, one male/two females, three females or three
males.

Many, Many Thanks in Advance & Best Regards,

~*~ Vosklady ~*~