Nice parrot fish.........

[CEL]

Hi.... would like to know where can i buy chaep and nice parrot fish.... those that are not inject with colour..... looking for those natural red colour one.... thank in advance

[hwchoy]

ahem, very difficult to define this "natural red colour" thing , because parrotfish is not a natural fish to begin with. just thought to let you know, if you do not know already. It is an artificial hybrid from a Central American and an African (I think so, or maybe South American) cichlid. Because of this hybridisation, they have deformed spines and so on.

I do commend you for not wanting fishes injected with colours. It is very bad for the fishes and we should avoid them. However if you still like to have a parrotfish despite it being an artificial hybrid that's OK too, just don't dump it into our waterways if you no longer want it in future (I'm not saying you will, just being precautionary )

why not consider one of the many hundreds of natural fishes available that are just as pretty?

[michael lai]

Dear Cel,
This is a futile search. Those that you think having 'natural colours' probably are new fish or kept in very poor condition. As Choy have pointed out, it is a mutation or hybrid of two cichlids. colour enchancement is probably embedded due to the 'false evolution' of generations of this fish. Nevertheless if you really like this fish, saw some nice specimens at c328. Pop on by for a look or you can buy some young specimens from your LFS and raise them, with the technology on fish food now you could probably predetermine their future colour. Peace

[Justikanz]

Keke... Some how I am expecting Choy to say something... Keke...

Yes, as they are man made, they also have difficulty in swimming and feeding... I often see them try to 'suck' in their food as their mouths are deformed and cannot operate as normal fish...

[hwchoy]

yes look very sad. bad karma on us for creating something like that. want to make sure people know what they are getting mah.