ADDING FISH.

Question
QUESTION: HI its alex again :)
i had to ask a new question as i asked too many follow ups haha.
i would have to keep my blood parrots as they are about ones 6 inch and others are about 4. no one well take them off of us. What happens if we want to return our tin foils and jewel and no one well take them ?
also can you give me a list again what i could have if i kept my 3 blood parrots thanks :D

ANSWER: Hi Alex,
I'm sorry to tell you but blood parrots need big tanks too, and the truth is, you really shouldn't add any other fish to your tank.
I am so against man made fish.  There are 2300 cichlids to choose from, yet that is not enough for man...really disturbing.  The poor things get big, need big tanks, and have no defense.  It's sad.  Once you buy fish that get big, most pet stores never want to take them back, and you are stuck with them.  You have to find them a home, which is not easy.  Maybe look in your local paper, or put in an add.  Ask people in your school, or put it on the bulletin board.  A good petshop owner would take them back, but most are in this for the money, and so they don't care.  The fact that they sold you these fish knowing the size of your tank tells you that they are in this just to make a buck.  Another option is to get a bigger tank, but this would be costly.  Try to find someone who could house your fish.  Sometimes, restaurants, and bars have big tanks, and would gladly take them in.  Maybe you have a place in town, or not too far away where they keep fish on exhibition.  Sometimes another pet store will take your fish in.  They know by doing this, they have found another customer.  Pet stores make money, not only on fish, but food, medication, decors etc.  There just might be another Pet Store out there who would gladly take them in.  
Beware of the vendors who tell you that fish grow accordingly to the size of the tank.  This is untrue.  When small fish who get big are forced to live in small tanks, their growth is stunted, and their internal organs have no place to grow.  This is a terrible death.  I have often heard this, so the more people know what happens, the better, and maybe one day this cruelty will stop.  The perfect example is the Oscar.  One of the most mistreated fish on the market.  I have heard so many horror stories on these poor fish.  
I wish I could help you, but I am really stuck.  Try to find them a home, especially the tin foils.  Keep your jewel, and hope that he will grow to be less aggressive that they usually are.  There are always exceptions to the rule.  Provide him with many hiding places.
I recently bought "Lifalili Cichlids"  They look alot like jewels, and were sold as jewels.  They are less aggressive, and are smaller, lets hope that maybe you have one of these instead of a Jewel.  It could easily happen.  Some pet store fish keepers are not too well informed on fish that look alike.  
I hope that you will find a solution, don't give up, and keep me posted please.
Good Luck
Lynda


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,
my mom says just let them be, if they fight they fight etc.
but i am passionate about fish and i am only 13.
and she gets annoyed when i speak about fish as it is like i have ocd over fish.
i would like to empty my tank and either just have malawis in their or a community tank.

if no where well take them what do i do?
i doubt anyone would want parrot cichlids as you cant put anything else with them and the fish man said that the parrots well be perfect in the 39 gallon and said we could add more.

i am just horrified of this. and feel like having a go at the people who sold me the fish!
haha
thanks

Answer
Hi Alex,
My heart goes out to you as I know the passion of keeping, and loving fish.  We all make mistakes when we start out.  
I would try to see the Manager of the store, and not the guy, or woman who works in the fish department.  See the Manager, and explain your problem to him.  Tell him you were misinformed, and that this is not your fault, but the fault of the person who sold you these fish.  If he is a nice guy, you have a chance that he take the fish back, even if you lose money on them.  Tell him you will buy other fish.  Butter him up a little, but don't let him put the blame on you!
No way you could add more Blood Parrots to your tank.  I sometimes wonder who works in these places!  
If the Manager of the store does nothing for you, then you will have to keep them.  Maybe later on something will come up, you have to have faith.  If there are other pet stores in your ares, try them too.  There is nothing they like better than to hear bad news on another pet store...lol  There is lots of competition in this market.  
Your Tin foils will not fight, they are not aggressive fish, so don't worry about it too much, and your jewel might turn out to be a nice one.  He is alone, and as no mate, so they are less aggressive when they have no females with them, and he might be a female.  
Just feed them well, and do your water changes.  For now they seem to be okay.
Hoping that everything will turn out fine, and that a solution will be found.  Write me anytime.
Lynda