Are red parrots dyed?

Question

I've heard some people say red parrot chiclids are dyed by the breeders. Is that true? I always thought their bright red color was natural.

Answer 1

Yes and no. Yellow, orange, and red can be natural colors, the fish could be fed color-enhancing foods by the breeders to darken their color, or the fish may be dyed. When you see these in a pet store, you wouldn't have any way of really knowing.

It's only after you've had them at home for a while that you might be able to tell the difference. If color enhancing foods were used (red peppers, shrimp, carrots, pumpkin, etc.) to get a more red or orange color in a lighter fish, the color will probably fade within a few months, as opposed to dyed fish which fade after about a year. If the color stays for longer than a year, that's the natural coloration.

I'd avoid any from a batch of parrots labelled as "jelly bean" or something of the sort - here, the greens, purples, blues, are guaranteed to be dyed, so the others may be as well.

Answer 2

No. The Red Parrot Cichlid has natural colors most of the time. But-fish may be "painted". This is made by injecting dye into the fish to make it more colorful. Hopes this help.

Answer 3

This is a horrible, abusive process were the fish is dipped into a corrosive substance to strip their slim coat off, and if they survive this cruel treatment they are then injected with a dye using a tattooing needle. This all requires Professional materials and machinery, and is extremely tricky even when handled by a Professional. The mortality rate is incredibly high during the process and the fishes immune systems are severally compromised the rest of their much shorter lives. Please do not perpetuate and fiance such cruel and harsh treatments.

Answer 4

Yes, the oranges and yellows are natural. It's not dye, it's a tattoo. I wouldn't buy them. Thats how striped one's and I <3 U fish come out. Cichlids aren't birds dufus. They're a hybrid of the severum and red devil.

Answer 5

Chiclids are fish, not birds. It must be a color for a fish, and I would hope that they are not dyed. :(

Answer 6

Their colors are natural. Birds come in all sorts of bright colors to attract mates. You thought right the first time.

Answer 7

they dont come in the wild as they are hybreds, not to be confused with the wild parrot cichlid.

But the "wild" coloration(again man made) young fishes are black and will turn a yellowish coloration.

Some may turn red, but to a VERY VERY small degree.

These hybreds are commonly injected, but unless you do regular injectons, the color will fade to some degree of red-yellow within 2 months.

If it is bright red, chances are that it is injected. color enhancers like tetra color bits will help in saving some of the red, but not alot.

Answer 8

Wait, what catagory is this. I thought it was fish. But having red feathers is not really a fish thing.....so....birds?

Their red color is totally au natural.