talloulou
Aquarium Advice Addict
I love the look and seemingly cute personality of blood red parrots. I have been trying to ignore them and not want one because they are man made frankenstein fish or whatever. But they are kinda cool looking.
Mostly I haven't bought one because I have heard about problems with their spines and swim bladders being deformed. And I have even heard they have trouble closing their mouths when older.
I guess what I really want to know....are these fish still cool a year or so after you have brought them home or are they riddled with health problems? There also seems to be disputes about whether or not they can breed, but I am not concerned with that as I only want one. However I do have a severum. Would a parrot breed with a severum? (Since possibly they may be the monster child of a red devil and severum.) Although I find that hard to believe as red devils are notoriously mean and parrot fish aren't described as aggressive.
I'm thinking about getting another tank and am curious about your experience with this fish and what tankmates it has successfully been kept with. As I would like to keep it with my severums. And I have also heard that they have trouble competiting for food due to their odd swimming and mouth shape. Is that true?
As far as the ethical questions regarding a man made cultivar - I only care about health consequences. If the fish has alot of problems down the line healthwise I'll find that sad and depressing. Also I don't want to support the making of deformed fish. However if people just don't like the fish because they are cichlid "snobs" and the fish isn't pure...well whatever. The fish now exists so what can you do. Any thoughts?
Mostly I haven't bought one because I have heard about problems with their spines and swim bladders being deformed. And I have even heard they have trouble closing their mouths when older.
I guess what I really want to know....are these fish still cool a year or so after you have brought them home or are they riddled with health problems? There also seems to be disputes about whether or not they can breed, but I am not concerned with that as I only want one. However I do have a severum. Would a parrot breed with a severum? (Since possibly they may be the monster child of a red devil and severum.) Although I find that hard to believe as red devils are notoriously mean and parrot fish aren't described as aggressive.
I'm thinking about getting another tank and am curious about your experience with this fish and what tankmates it has successfully been kept with. As I would like to keep it with my severums. And I have also heard that they have trouble competiting for food due to their odd swimming and mouth shape. Is that true?
As far as the ethical questions regarding a man made cultivar - I only care about health consequences. If the fish has alot of problems down the line healthwise I'll find that sad and depressing. Also I don't want to support the making of deformed fish. However if people just don't like the fish because they are cichlid "snobs" and the fish isn't pure...well whatever. The fish now exists so what can you do. Any thoughts?