Blood Parrot types

[convict360]

Just wanted to ask you guys for thoughts on the types of blood parrot available, I have a typical blood red parrot from petsmart, that I don't personally believe is dyed due to them being pretty moral about fish where I'm from; however I also got another blood parrot ages ago that faded from the typical brown/black stripes, to a bright yellow colour.

Both were parrots, but both looked different; I didn't see the red fade but it still ended up vastly different in colour from the other...

Is there any insight into these differences, if it's possible to try and target which types to go for?

I'd fancy trying one of the larger types, but unsure if they're even on the same page as regularly available BP's.

 

[~T~]

Usually you can tell if they are dyed by looking along the lateral line. Even when the fish has lost the dye everywhere else, you'll usually see it on the scales along the lateral line. I personally think that most bright red parrots you see in shops have had some kind of treatment (be it hormone or dye) to make them like that. These do eventually fade to a much lighter orange. I've kept a lot of parrots in my time, including a crazy yellow and brown KK type which bred with a syn. I've had the natural brown juvies fade to bright yellow and also orange but never bright red. The only very red ones seem to be KK/mammon. You'll probably not find many different kinds round our way mate, unless your supplier can get them. I got my KK by chance from Aquarium Design of all places (hand in ) and also a few kirin parrots (FH parrots) from Coral Reef. I also got a belter of a red texas from Aquarium Design as well.

 

[convict360]

Usually you can tell if they are dyed by looking along the lateral line. Even when the fish has lost the dye everywhere else, you'll usually see it on the scales along the lateral line. I personally think that most bright red parrots you see in shops have had some kind of treatment (be it hormone or dye) to make them like that. These do eventually fade to a much lighter orange. I've kept a lot of parrots in my time, including a crazy yellow and brown KK type which bred with a syn. I've had the natural brown juvies fade to bright yellow and also orange but never bright red. The only very red ones seem to be KK/mammon. You'll probably not find many different kinds round our way mate, unless your supplier can get them. I got my KK by chance from Aquarium Design of all places (hand in ) and also a few kirin parrots (FH parrots) from Coral Reef. I also got a belter of a red texas from Aquarium Design as well.

Btw, i'm honestly not joking when I say I seen a huge white blood parrot ages ago in aquarium design; at least a year or so back. Was so so tempted to pick it up, as it came right up to the glass and was very friendly, although if yours was red it couldn't be the same fish lol.

Also seen massive white/pink ones in shops in Paisley, though the difference to my own blood parrot is night and day; mine is a year old and about 4 inches, plump body; but these other ones were literally 3 or 4 times the size.

I'm considering getting my current one a companion lol, so I might investigate further lol

 

[Kaliedoscope]

I called a major US distributor, in regards to an order I was making for the store where I worked. Their list included blood red parrot "aka purple" and regular parrots, which were orange. Before I ordered, I called to ask whether or not the difference was dye. He said "I can guarantee you they aren't dyed. I can't guarantee they weren't given hormones."

I've raised parrot cichlids for many years, and they always fade to the yellow color you referenced when they fade. They gain the red color at 6 inches and above only.
It would stand to reason that the hormone used is the same hormone that induces prematurely the adult colors in a tiger oscar, as you've seen at every store in the United States, I'm sure.

 

[~T~]

Btw, i'm honestly not joking when I say I seen a huge white blood parrot ages ago in aquarium design; at least a year or so back. Was so so tempted to pick it up, as it came right up to the glass and was very friendly, although if yours was red it couldn't be the same fish lol.

Also seen massive white/pink ones in shops in Paisley, though the difference to my own blood parrot is night and day; mine is a year old and about 4 inches, plump body; but these other ones were literally 3 or 4 times the size.

I'm considering getting my current one a companion lol, so I might investigate further lol

Haha you should bought it man. I have seen massive ones around here and in Asia (loads of KKs there). Yours will eventually get huge.

Here's a few vids of my old parrots. The biggest one was the one that bred with the balloon con and the dark ones are my own bred KKxSyn (not faded yet in the vid). The big gal (Boss) was probably 10 years + in that vid. The clown loaches were purchased in 1995

 

[convict360]

Haha you should bought it man. I have seen massive ones around here and in Asia (loads of KKs there). Yours will eventually get huge.

Here's a few vids of my old parrots. The biggest one was the one that bred with the balloon con and the dark ones are my own bred KKxSyn (not faded yet in the vid). The big gal (Boss) was probably 10 years + in that vid. The clown loaches were purchased in 1995

Awesome video cheers for sharing! Nice BP's too, is the big one a regular BP that just got massive lol?

 

[~T~]

Awesome video cheers for sharing! Nice BP's too, is the big one a regular BP that just got massive lol?

Yep.