Midposted for clarity....


"~*~ Vosklady ~*~" wrote in message
...
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.


I have been reading that some parrots have managed to successfuly breed, but
I would almost bet money that the fish you have are still dyed. The natural
color of a normal (not Jellybean or Gumdrop) parrot is a pinkish/peach but I
have seen Jellybeans that color as well. My biology isn't the best in the
world, but to my knowledge the color from dying will not be passed to
offspring as it is not a genetic alteration. If anyone knows any
differently, please feel free to correct me.


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?

My personal opinion.. no. (others may disagree..) I have four of them. Two
are Jellybeans (didn't know about the dying when I bought them), and the
other two are true-color parrots. As juveniles, parrots are very dark; their
body is a dark gray/brown with silver-ish tiger stripes and they have an
iridescent blue/green mark near the tail. One of them still has that
coloring but the other is about half dark and half pinkish. I've posted a
good site for info before but don't have it handy now..


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?


I have several different types of fish with mine.
2 Bala Sharks
1 Rainbow Shark
2 Tiger Barbs
1 Geophagus Jurupari

I have had tetras with them in the past as well with no problems.


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.


It depends. I've read that the dyed fish generally won't grow larger than
4-5 inches. My Jellybeans are almost at that now, so I can't say if they'll
get larger. My other two parrots are still immature but I've read that they
may get to be much larger. ::shrug:: Your guess is as good as mine on that
one..


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).


There are exceptions but as a general rule, parrots are not able to close
their mouths. It isn't harmful to them at all and if there is any agression
it makes their tank-mates safer. Mine have never had any problems eating.


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.


Can't help you with this one.... If you find out how, let me know..


Many, Many Thanks in Advance & Best Regards,

~*~ Vosklady ~*~





Mar
------------------------------------------------
"I meant," said Ipslore, bitterly,"what is there in this world that makes
living worthwhile?"

Death thought about it.
"Cats," he said eventually, "Cats are nice."

-Terry Pratchett, 'Sourcery'