A Question of Morals..

[vaipulu]

There are a few processes that are used when making the hybrid blood parrot more attractive to 1st time hobbyist. One method is to cut the tail off at a young age, giving the parrot a "Heart" snapped deformity when it heals. AKA Valentine Blood parrot. These fish have also been exposed to steroids to enhance the orange in the fish, and to get the orange to come out at a young age this is also believed to be why Male blood Parrots are sterile. . Another process used is to "dye them" while is this ascetically pleasing to some individuals it greatly reduces the life span of the fish. Also the fish does not retain the color. Another process to enhance color is to literally tattoo the fish, ie. names, pictures, and "paint" a very large amount of these fish do not survive the process, however even though many of the fish do not survive, while there is a demand there will be a supply the best we can do is educate and do our best to put this trade down.

 

[McPhishy]

Not dumb...uninformed. As am I, and also curious, but too lazy right now to google. So.

+1

These were born regular parrots:

1. They dye/hormone treat the entire parrot into a different color (purple, blue, orange, etc.) hence the "jellybean", the dye reduces their lifespan.
2. They literally tattoo onto the parrot hence "painted'', usually something like "I luv u" or something else that the novice fish keeper would like. And yes the tattoo is painful, don't know for sure, but I believe the tattoo also reduces their lifespan as well.

 

[Moloch]

Oh....****.

So is this a problem particular to parrots? I've heard of other dyed fish, and I'd assume its the same process/sideeffects.

I guess what I'm asking is, is the hybridization of blood parrots a travesty in and of itself? Or is the problem with this situation that these particular parrots are jellybean & dyed? I have heard that the mouth is deformed in blood parrots so that the teeth are sunken in a bit or something to that effect...other than that I don't know much about them. There's one at a local pet shop (I won't call it an LFS...) but they also have at least 7 fish that I counted today with the sunken stomachs indicative of a parasite or something:\

 

[McPhishy]

Oh....****.

So is this a problem particular to parrots? I've heard of other dyed fish, and I'd assume its the same process/sideeffects.

I guess what I'm asking is, is the hybridization of blood parrots a travesty in and of itself? Or is the problem with this situation that these particular parrots are jellybean & dyed? I have heard that the mouth is deformed in blood parrots so that the teeth are sunken in a bit or something to that effect...other than that I don't know much about them. There's one at a local pet shop (I won't call it an LFS...) but they also have at least 7 fish that I counted today with the sunken stomachs indicative of a parasite or something:\

I think the main problem is the dying and tattooing. BTW you might not wanna ask if hybridization is a travesty, the hybridization debate in fish keeping...

 

[Moloch]

Haha I kind of thought about that after I posted:grino:

Thanks for the info though.

And FWIW, I second the opinion to keep them in a tank in the store for education and so that the OP can at least know they're being provided a healthy life.

 

[CharlieTuna]

I was not aware of such practice. Sad that people would go to this length to make a $ selling fish. I seem to recall seeing some odd colored Danio's at my LFS, I'm guessing these guys were dyed?

 

[L021]

Danios can be biologically dyed. In theory it's more humane, but in practice it too shortens the lifespan.

 

[Industrial]

I would either do display tank educating the customers (which would likely have surprisingly poor results), or sell them to the person that "insists" that they get a big colorful fish for their 5g hex that hasn't even been rung out yet. IMO you would be saving a fish that could potentially live 10 years in optimal conditions with one that couldn't live more than five.

 

[Noa]

I used to oppose the breeding of blood parrots in general, actually, until I heard someone point out the fact that there are few people against the breeding of pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs, and other dog breeds that have a short "smushed" face that can often hinder their breathing. These dogs often live 8-10 years, but always have the danger of suffocating because of their facial structure.
I've heard of blood parrots living well past ten years, so their hybridization doesn't seem detrimental to their lifespan, and the few regular blood parrots we've had in at the shop don't seem to have any trouble eating or maneuvering, and they come in about the size of a quarter.
I'm still not a huge fan of hybrids in general, but regardless, I have much more of an issue with the painted/tattoo fish.
Here's a link that talks about methods and some species that you might see dyed.

 

[Moloch]

I would either do display tank educating the customers (which would likely have surprisingly poor results), or sell them to the person that "insists" that they get a big colorful fish for their 5g hex that hasn't even been rung out yet. IMO you would be saving a fish that could potentially live 10 years in optimal conditions with one that couldn't live more than five.

Thats a pretty realistic response, tbh. Never a fun judgement call with any living thing, but it is pretty logical.