New Blood Parrot Owner

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

Earlier today I bought 2 new Blood Parrot Cichlids from my local petsmart, they're a proven breeding pair and were guarding a tank full of fry when I saw them. I never would have known they were there as they were in a different area than all of the other fish in there own tank, but after expressing my interst in blood parrots to the employee, she asked me a few questions about my tank set up at home than told me she had a breeding pair, and that I seemed like I would be a good match for them, but I have a few questions.

I know they can get to be around 6 inches, but the store had 2 varieties of Blood Parrots, large and small, I figured they were just younger and older fish. The tank mine were in was labled "Small Blood Parrots" and right now, they're only about 2 inches, will they get any bigger? I imagine they will but wanted a more experienced opinion. What about there coloring, will it change as they age?

They're deffinately cute, that's for sure

 

[onidrase]

I don't know what young blood parrots look like, but those look to me exactly like pink convict cichlids, not blood parrots. Actually, they don't look like blood parrots at all.

If I'm right and those are pink convicts, I'd take one back. They'll kill each other when they get older if your tank isn't big enough. I'd take both back if you want more fish. Convicts in general tend to be very mean.

Speaking of which, how big is your tank? And yes, blood parrots and convicts get pretty big. at least 6 inches.

This is a blood parrot:

And this is a pink convict:

The "small blood parrot" label is, as you assumed, just their age, not their species. Petsmart does that so they can make more money off larger fish and sell the smaller ones cheaper.

 

[onidrase]

Also, blood parrots being a hybrid species, males are generally infertile. I'm not sure if it's possible to have a breeding pair of them. or, at least, have fry.

Can I get a better look at the hiding one? They both look male to me in the picture. At least, if they are what I'm 98% sure they are.

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

I know that the male Blood Parrots are usually infertile, but I've read that the number of fertile males is starting to increase. I'm almost positive they're male and female, because like I said, there was like 40 fry in the tank with them that they were protecting. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to get a good picture of the hiding fish, because it rarely comes out.

Well thats disapointing, they look a bit fatter than the pink convicts to me, but they don't look quite like blood parrots either I guess. How did they end up being labled as blood parrots than though? Do you think it was on purpose?

 

[onidrase]

I know that the male Blood Parrots are usually infertile, but I've read that the number of fertile males is starting to increase. I'm almost positive they're male and female, because like I said, there was like 40 fry in the tank with them that they were protecting. Unfortunatly I haven't been able to get a good picture of the hiding fish, because it rarely comes out.

Well thats disapointing, they look a bit fatter than the pink convicts to me, but they don't look quite like blood parrots either I guess. How did they end up being labled as blood parrots than though? Do you think it was on purpose?

They might not have been their fry. Convict cichlids breed like rabbits. You could probably spawn them in a pile of mud.

Looking at an "Evil LFS" route, they could have been differently because convicts in general are not a demanded fish, each spawn they have like 100 babies, so they're certainly not uncommon, and given their heavy aggression, the tank mates you can keep them with are limited. Not to mention they should be kept in a medium to large sized tank, with nothing at all or much larger fish than they are. Both of these factors spell out bad for sale.

Looking at a "Stupid Employee" standpoint, they might have run out of small blood parrots in the tank, and the person that gave them too you might have thought they were blood parrots even though they weren't. A lot of tanks at my petsmart just have labels all over the place, regardless of what fish are in the tanks.

My convict, although not pink, has the exact body type as the two in your tank. So the slenderness I'm guessing is the individual in the picture, not the species in entirety.

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

upon further research they look more like Platinum Blood Parrot (White Parrots) to me,
I think they're a cross between the blood parrot and pink convict.

http/3.bp.blogspot.com/_ymqAB8PxQ_0/SyldLoolF-I/AAAAAAAAACg/YxE#105###jClc/s400/Dwarf+Balloon+white+parrot+fish.jpg

The only reason I am guessing this is because them and there tank mates were bright orange along there bellies, and backs like the ones pictured above before I moved them to my tank at home, I figured the loss of color was due to stress

 

[onidrase]

upon further research they look more like Platinum Blood Parrot (White Parrots) to me,
I think they're a cross between the blood parrot and pink convict.

http/3.bp.blogspot.com/_ymqAB8PxQ_0/SyldLoolF-I/AAAAAAAAACg/YxE#105###jClc/s400/Dwarf+Balloon+white+parrot+fish.jpg

The only reason I am guessing this is because them and there tank mates were bright orange along there bellies, and backs like the ones pictured above before I moved them to my tank at home, I figured the loss of color was due to stress

female convicts have orange bellies. I dunno if the pink ones do, but regular ones and calico ones do.

That looks like a pretty close match, (the white parrots) though. But yours don't really have that distinct blood parrot face. I'm interested to see a second opinion here.

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

I'd love a second opinion too.

 

[three-fingers]

Not an expert, but having seen loads of parrots and convicts and a few inbetween, yours just look like pink convicts to me too . I would be happy, as at least your fish have fully functional jaws, unlike parrot fish . Does the one in the pot look different?

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

Yes, a bit. He has more of a blood parrot face than the other one, almost like a bump on it's head.
I don't know what I am going to do, I really like them and am starting to get rather attached, however I am set on getting a blood parrot, and I'm sort of in a 'one or the other' situation. I have no clue what I am going to do...
Guess it's back to the pet store for these guys.. :'(

This absolutely sucks... I feel so torn.

 

[Man of fish]

Noooooo they're so cute! I'd feel compelled to go to that petstore tell them they sold you a pink convict when you wanted a blood parrot and see what free stuff you get. Always good. If no free stuff act all angry then either threaten to return the fish or buy them their own tank. Always fun!

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

It's difficult to see from this picture, this is the one who is always hiding, but he has a fairly large lump where is head and back meet.

and here is the othe one, you can see that her orange is starting to come back in.

I feel so terrible about all this

 

[Man of fish]

They look like half parrots to me.

 

[onidrase]

Now they look more like blood parrots. But not full blooded. They look like they do have a bit of pink convict in them, or something totally different. I'd keep them, they're quite pretty if you ask me.

 

[Xox-Zip-xoX]

That's what I though. I didn't think they looked quite like full-blooded pink convicts, I guess it's different because I can see them in person, not just by a picture. I absolutely love them, I really don't want to get rid of them, but if they're really aggressive like Onidrase said they were that I might have to. I've been waiting over a year and a half to get some blood parrots, and eventually wanted to have 4 or 5. Would I be able to keep these with some blood parrots?

Noooooo they're so cute! I'd feel compelled to go to that petstore tell them they sold you a pink convict when you wanted a blood parrot and see what free stuff you get. Always good. If no free stuff act all angry then either threaten to return the fish or buy them their own tank. Always fun!

I like this idea, but how do I go about dealing with the people at the petstore? what do I say to them?