My Parrot is DYED!!! HELP!!!!!! PLEASE!!

[Joeyb1731]

Ok I purchased an orange undyed blood parrot the other day since then I purchased 2x red tailed botias and 1 gold gourami all from the same store nearby. Today I went to a store which I do not usually go to but I do have friends who work there. I trust this store with all of my other pets because they are very well known. However i have not yet entrusted them with my fish because I always preferred the other store. I purchased a "parrot fish" which was white in color. It had a few spots of green that i could see through the white. As I was paying the man at the counter said "thats a nice one, should end up being green" I did not think anything of it and brought the fish home. Because i did not know this stores fish well I did my usual float the bag, but before adding my tank water to the bag i tested the stores water with a strip. All was relatively similar to mine. I floated and added water to the bag for about an hour total and netted the fish in. At first the fish seemed to bring out the true personality of my other parrot. After a few hours he seemed to be acting a little strange. When i went over he seems to play dead and to me he doesnt look as naturally healthy as the other parrot. I went online to see if the fish was sick and i figured out he was DYED! I am very upset and through all my research i found out many different things. But i need some input from people with similar issues.

1- Should I return him?
2-Do these fish act weird until the dye comes out of them?
3-Is there anything I can do to help him?
4-Will he die?
5-Will his weakened immune system hurt my other fish if I keep him in there?
6-WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW/DO???

Please Im a newbie and I dont want my tank to be a disaster. Ive worked so hard


55 Gallon Tank
Water Temp: 78-82F
pH=Good
Alkalinity=120
Nitrite=Under 0.5 ppm
Nitrate=Under 20 ppm


In the tank

2x parrots
2x red tailed botias
1x gold gourami

 

[Monoxide]

I personally don't know what could be wrong with the fish. Hes dyed which is wrong (and if you don't like his color/him) then return him. Also when you return it say I didn't exspect to buy a dyed fish Id like to return this. Anyways for the stuff they use I dont know what they used ... Maybe if they used wrong stuff it could hurt the tank water/poison him but if he was fine with that on at the place it may be okay for him. But its up to you on weather you want it or not! Also you could post picture maybe.

 

[Helena21]

Yeah, If i were you i would return him and complain. I dont know if he will die but he probably wont live as long as the others, and he wont be as healthy. I think eventually the dye will wear off, but that might not happen for a long time.

 

[Joeyb1731]

thanks for your feedback. i think im going to take him back

 

[Monoxide]

People dye them to sell them. Some people buy fish that are dyed with designs even... weird but happens.

 

[PteroisVolitan15B]

Theres a store here that gets them around Valentine's Day with the tails cut off so they look like a heart and they have I <3 U tattooed on each side with dye severely pi$$es me off when I see that kind of stuff

 

[Monoxide]

That is nuts

 

[Helena21]

Theres a store here that gets them around Valentine's Day with the tails cut off so they look like a heart and they have I <3 U tattooed on each side with dye severely pi$$es me off when I see that kind of stuff

Yeah i saw that once. horrible

 

[MissFishy]

I wouldn't return the fish, if he's already acting ill moving him and putting him through that stress is a death sentence and the poor dyed fish has been through enough already. Raise the temp in your tank to around 80-82. You don't have a test for your ammonia levels? That's IMO the most important test to have. I would keep the fish and see if you can help it survive, but please call the pet store and let them know how horrified you are that they would sell a dyed fish to you and that you will no longer shop at their store. Speak to the owner if possible, not just some employee. Saying something as uninformed as "it looks like he'll be green" just shows that the store employs uninformed and uneducated staff.

As a side note, over a year ago now I was given the "gift" of a neon blue parrot for my birthday. I was horrified, but unable to return him since he'd come from a store nowhere near me. I took him in and did the best I could, he's now huge and the blue dye has faded. He's more silver and a very good looking fish, even if he is a terror (these guys can get nasty when they get older).

 

[homebunnyj]

Return the fish.

Show the store that you do not want their tortured fish, that it is not a good selling point, that they will not prosper selling dyed fish, that you will not take it. Also inform them that you will be spreading the news via word of mouth that they sell dyed fish.

Since you just bought the fish without being properly informed, this is the proper thing to do. I understand where Miss Fishy is coming from, but none of us can save all the fish, and it is not our responsibility to do so. The responsibility lies with those who dye the fish in the first place.

If we accept dyed fish, we are perpetuating the practice, and I do not want to be responsible for such a heinous thing.

 

[brian1973]

I agree with miss fishy, keep it and do your best, I am not trying to beat you up so please dont take what I say next in that way, while it is the stores fault partially, you have to accept some of the responsibility since you did buy this fish, had you researched completely on parrots you would have known what a dyed parrot looks like rather than a natural colored one.

Does the store offer a guarantee? If so how long? Parrots usually arent cheap, assuming you have a guarantee I would wait and see how it does, if it doesnt improve before the end of the guarantee then take it back and get one that ISNT dyed.

Anyway just my .02 cents..good luck with what ever you decide.

 

[Joeyb1731]

i returned the fish. i do not feel comfortable with a fish with a weak immune system, plus one that has been through so much. he seemed fine back in the tank at the store. better then in my tank. im happy with my natrual fish

 

[SinisterKisses]

im happy with my natrual fish

Well an undyed, orange BP isn't a natural fish either...just saying.

 

[MissFishy]

Dyed fish are more prone to picking up diseases because they have been poked with needles and have open wounds, their immune systems aren't damaged for good (if they live through the process that is). Your tank was already exposed to anything the poor parrot had anyhow, it's a shame you took it back to the store where who knows what will happen to it. I hope you at least spoke to the store manager or owner and informed them you won't be shopping at their store anymore.

 

[MadridKid]

If the fish is sick you can return him/her. But I don't know about the dyed part of the story... I never researched this topic cause my fish aren't that vibrant of a species... Best of luck, and hope the fish is all good.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Do a quick google search...IMO absolutely EVERY fish keeper should be aware of this disgusting, horrid practice.

 

[Joeyb1731]

yea I do know that the parrot is not natural sinsiterkisses, but when i say natural I mean one who hasnt been altered by coloration. Mix breeding I can live with, I personally like the way the fish look, some dont, but i do, all I meant by natural is one who was not subjected to things like dye and needles or any other of the horrible things they do to change the color of the fish. I spoke to my friend who worked at the store and told him I cant buy fish from there anymore, he tested my water for me while I was there, and he said my pH was high at 7.4! i dont know if anyone there knows what they are talking about. Anyway i used the money i paid for the fish plus some to get myself a master test kit. (very much needed) my other fish are doing great and from now on i will stick to my regular fish store.

 

[TMony]

Return the fish.

Show the store that you do not want their tortured fish, that it is not a good selling point, that they will not prosper selling dyed fish, that you will not take it. Also inform them that you will be spreading the news via word of mouth that they sell dyed fish.

Since you just bought the fish without being properly informed, this is the proper thing to do. I understand where Miss Fishy is coming from, but none of us can save all the fish, and it is not our responsibility to do so. The responsibility lies with those who dye the fish in the first place.

If we accept dyed fish, we are perpetuating the practice, and I do not want to be responsible for such a heinous thing.

Agree 100% Judy . . . here is some additional info for people to read

Death by Dyeing.org - Shades of death

 

[brian1973]

I dont know if I would be so quick to stop doing business there...what are your other options for LFS? Remember rather you agree or disagree with a practice it is still a business.

Another approach would be to inform the owner of the reallity of dyed fish, and talk to them..the big box stores are already driving most small businesses under, so I would support the local LFS regardless of selling one kind of fish unless it is totally disgusting all the way around.

Edit... Please those that are so quick to judge..tell me one LFS that doesnt have questionable business practices in some way, seriously.. selling a hybrid alone to some is enough to justify not doing business, selling bettas in cups or with the betta habitats for others. They do what they have to, if you dont agree with it dont shop there but remember every dollar spent in petco and petsmart put some little mom and pop one step closer to being out of business or haveing to sell dyed/mistreated fish to make up for lost sales elsewhere. There was someone on either this forum or NANFA that owned a LFS but decided to close it do to the number of times ethics did not equal $$$$'s.

 

[MadridKid]

I never researched this topic cause my fish aren't that vibrant of a species.

I know what dyeing is.... but I have not searched the details extensively is what i mean. It is wrong, but I don't think it will stop anyone. Almost everyone including me loves the bright vibrant colors... but then again, it's at our aquatic friends expense. Yah, this is a bummer.