Member

Posts: 61
From:Alabama
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-12-2004 01:12 PM         

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I put 5 baby blood parrots 1 baby pacu along with 2 medium pleco's in my 44 gallon cornor tank. I tried to pick the friendliest ones at the lfs. I have two large parrots as friendly as can be in another tank. I got these little guys for there personalities. The thing is all they do is hide when I come to the tank. They are out and about from a distance. I put them in a well established tank and they have been there three weeks now. Any ideas on what is going on with them?

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posted 01-12-2004 09:41 PM         

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Hi friendly to fish, Well, I'm not a fish psychologist but look at it this way, What would your reaction be if someone came and opened your front door that was 50 foot tall. You can try this to bring them out of their shyness. First fish are less stressed with the lights out. Set a specific feeding time. Leave the lights on the tank off until you feed them. They will associate your presence and the lights coming on with feeding time. I think you'll find that it won't take any time at all before they start coming out as you approach the tank. Once they start doing this you can leave the light on longer.

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From:London, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-13-2004 08:13 AM         

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Hi, just to let you know I have just put a baby parrot in my well established aquarium about a month ago also and mine hides from me as well! It is a shame that they aren't as easy to find and check on, but when they start to change colour they will be much easier to spot! I can't wait! Does anyone know if there is any way to tell what colour they will be? Is there a certain food that is great for colour enhancement? Have fun watching your baby parrots grow and change! I will also try the "lights off" idea.

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From:London, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-13-2004 08:14 AM         

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Hi, just to let you know I have just put a baby parrot in my well established aquarium about a month ago also and mine hides from me as well! It is a shame that they aren't as easy to find and check on, but when they start to change colour they will be much easier to spot! I can't wait! Does anyone know if there is any way to tell what colour they will be? Is there a certain food that is great for colour enhancement? Have fun watching your baby parrots grow and change! I will also try the "lights off" idea.

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Posts: 61
From:Alabama
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-14-2004 06:17 PM         

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Thank you KC I will try your idea. I know they are man made but I do love them. Thanks again for the info.

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Posts: 1
From:cal
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-14-2004 10:55 PM         

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This is normal behavior for the parrots, 4 to 8 weeks they will eat shrimp pellets out of your hand. let them get use to you spend some time at the tank at feeding time.

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posted 01-15-2004 08:40 AM         

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i thought blood parrots where clm mine is eating my zebra danios, or am i not feeding enough?

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posted 01-15-2004 03:31 PM         

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Hi, True Blood Parrots are not man made and I really wouldn't classify them as a community fish. They will eat fish that are smaller than they are. They only come in one color which is a reddish orange. The confusion I believe is from a new hybrid often referred to as Bubblegum Parrots that come in a variety of colors. From the information that I have Bubblegum Parrots are a cross between Blood Parrot and Convict Cichlid. The description I have of how they are treated for color is inhumane. After they are born they are dipped into a solution that burns away the protective slime coat. From there they are dipped in dyes and then placed in another solution to help restore the slime coat. Also from the information I have received this inhumane treatment also shortens their life expectancy about 60%. Needless to say, If I were still operating a store today it would definately not stock the Bubblegum Parrots. So if your going to get a Parrot Fish get the true Blood Parrot and not the Bubblegum Parrots.

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Posts: 61
From:Alabama
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-15-2004 05:02 PM         

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You are so correct on the bubblegum parrots I would not have one of them for anything. What I mean by man made is they are a Hybrid creation. A cross between a red devil and severum. Alot of people dont like them for that reason. But I love my two bigger ones so I bought 5 more for my 44 gallon so I could grow them. Once again I am very immpressed KC.

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posted 01-16-2004 08:20 AM         

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i have the yellow parrot fish, this is not a hybrid is it? i thought they were called yellow blood parrot fish,and that only the blue ,purple, orange ,green , where the real fish . store owners that carry these fish should be closed down if all that matters is the sale. and not the concern of well being of the fish. oh well i have him now and he is content with his home. how big do they get with their growth being stunted by the inhumane torture they go through?

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posted 01-16-2004 08:24 AM         

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let me rephrase that , i thought the orange,green,purple, blue, where the hybrids

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posted 01-16-2004 09:59 PM         

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HI heman 37, You are correct. Oooops again, memory lapse. There is a Yellow Parrot that doesn't go through that inhumane process.

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