Fave LFS has started selling Dyed Parrot Cichlids

[jimw13uk]

I got home last night and my 13 year old son said "hey dad can we go to xxx (name removed to protect the guilty) on saturday cos they are selling some really cool looking cichlids and I want one".

Now that got my attention immediately - "what are they " I asked

"they are Parrot Cichlids and they are pinks and greens and blues"

How annoyed was I - I then explained to him why he couldnt have any and he now wants me to go and tell them on saturday how cruel they are for helping to "support" the practice.

Its a great shop and the tanks are always spotless and the fish are well looked after - the people are friendly and very knowledgeable but I dont feel like giving them my money anymore.

Decisions decisions ??

 

[Ferris]

It seems to get worse and worse doesn't it, especially with dyed parrots. I have already boycotted one shop for exactly this issue.

I have to be honest though, if the LFS that i use now started this, I'm not sure that i could NEVER go again, it is so good. Don't think i'll ever have that problem though, they don't even sell male Betta's because they believe they are so often bought in error, I can't imagine them ever getting dyed fish (fingers crossed)

 

[jimw13uk]

Thats the thing - I really like the LFS but it pains me to see these fish and I know that the colours will attract the kids who will badger parents into buying a fish that will more than likely not last very long.

 

[SPLiSH]

Yeah, I'm 13 also and up until recently (before I joined this forum) I would often go to my LFS and look at all the beautiful fish.. I asked the woman at the counter what these certain fish were called (I now know they were glass catfish dyed green ) and she said, 'Oh, a rare hybrid known as the Bottle-Green Catfish. Would you like one?'

It's horrible how some places will exploit kids and unexperienced fishkeepers just to sell stuff.

IMO, it's probably a one off thing- if they are a good store, I'd continue to buy there, unless selling dyed fish became a habit there. Everyone makes mistakes, just hope they don't do it again. You could casually ask them to explain how the cichlids got their pretty colours...

 

[Matchu]

Are you sure your son might not have been mistaken?

 

[jimw13uk]

well the thought did cross my mind that he may be mistaken but I double checked with him and he was adamant and then I showed him some pics I have of dyed parrots and he was absolute 100% certain.
He very rarely gets things wrong (which is annoying for a dad with a bad memory cos he can remember every word I say and it all comes back to haunt me) .
The LFS had them labelled as Parrot Cichlids - NOTE the missing DYED word

 

[jimw13uk]

Yeah, I'm 13 also and up until recently (before I joined this forum) I would often go to my LFS and look at all the beautiful fish.. I asked the woman at the counter what these certain fish were called (I now know they were glass catfish dyed green ) and she said, 'Oh, a rare hybrid known as the Bottle-Green Catfish. Would you like one?'

Thats terrible .... but I would guess not that uncommon
A sale is a sale to some places.

I am going in to talk to them on saturday and see what they have to say - their answer/attitude to my question will decide wether I shop there anymore

 

[Kirsty]

At my LFS i saw a small yellow parrot, i really did like the look of this fish buti am gathering from this that i should pehaps not buy one?

 

[jimw13uk]

Heres a little info on why they arent a great fish to buy
Parrot Cichlids, which a hybrid between the Red Devil and a Sevrum are being dipped to produce Red Parrots, Violet Parrots, Blue Parrots, Purple Parrots, Green Parrots, Gold Parrots, and Yellow Parrots. The Blood Parrot is being bred not to have tails

Several methods are used to alter the color and appearance of tropical fish. Coloring fish stresses them and makes them more susceptible to disease. Young fish that are not fully grown are often stunted by the painting process.
Some methods result in mortality rates as high as 80%. Many of the survivors will have an abbreviated life span. Nine out of ten painted fish will lose their coloration within a matter of months.

Colored Food - Young fish are fed treated foods that will temporarily tint them.
Once they are no longer fed the treated food, they eventually lose their color. Unfortunately the dye they consume can negatively affect their growth and development.
Dye Injection - Needles are used to inject dye under the skin. Because only a small area is affected, the fish must be subjected to many punctures to achieve the desired effect. The popular painted glassfish are dyed this way, using florescent colored paints. Fish that are injected often contract infections from the punctures.
Dipping - As barbaric as dye injections seem, this practice is even worse. The fish are first put into a caustic solution that strips off their protective outer slime coating. They are then dipped in dye, or injected with dyes, after which they are dipped in another chemical that irritates the flesh to stimulate re-growth of the slime coat. This method is very stressful, and has a high mortality rate

 

[SPLiSH]

It's disgusting that people would think about causing that amount of pain and stress to a defenceless animal. It's sick, in my opinion.

 

[xanthianacid]

You have humane societies over there, I think its banned in England isn't it? Katchan recently started a thread on fish dying. Decided to get the RSPCA involved, that is who it is over here anyway! Good luck, this cruelty must end!!!

 

[GSD]

id tell the RSPCA or go and shout at the manager!!!

 

[New Boy]

I keep a couple of parrots (not dyed) and they have great personalities but didn't know the background when I got them. I no longer go to the store that sold me them as they now stock dyed parrots, even most parrot fish keepers (and there are a few dedicated forums around) are pretty strongly against dying fish.

I don't know, and I don't think many really do, how the hybrid process works - for example no-one seems sure which two species have been crossed to produce the parrot (although most common quoted is severum and red devil, I've seen suggestions of asian chromide, and many other south american cichlids being in the mix) but I've not seen one comment to disagree with the statement that dying fish is painful to the fish and affects the long-term health of those fortunate enough to survive the process.

 

[jimw13uk]

I see you have Blood Parrots - have yours got tails as from a web report i read a couple of months ago they are now breeding blood parrots to be tailess - which seems particulalry cruel as if they are anything like the Butterfly Discus they will find it very hard to swim and it adds stress to them.
I almost bought parrots last year before I found out anything about them - it was only me seeing the Golden Severum that stopped me so I am not knocking people who buy them (innocently) - I am knocking the people who create , distribute and profit from them.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I refuse to buy anything from fish stores that sell dyed fish. I will inform the manager of this fact. The problem is the anything for a buck mentality- but they will never get any of my bucks for anything.