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Some fish store employees (notably at PS) and other chains also, are about as unknowledgable about fish varieties as I am in my quest to relearn about, and stock a new cichlid tank with compatible fish.

If I(had a wireless laptop and) could go online right at the store and see peoples thoughts and technical information about something the store has that interests me, I know I'd have made fewer mistakes on types of fish I've bought out of my ignorance (and theirs).

I know there are books that would help (but, if there was one that had ALL the species of SA cichlids, I KNOW I couldn't afford it, though!)

However, I live in the country 20 miles from a cluster of stores and the truly experienced non-chain store are even further away. I guess I'd better make the "long drive" and quit buying fish I wish I'd hadn't after learning things about them.

To make an already long story no longer....I now have 2 orange and black Blood Parrot fish in my tank with the few other cichlids...And the specifics of how the "creators" of these hybrid fish "made them" bothers me.

Oh well, I'll see how they do...so far OK, and are eating well, not being bothered by other fish.

Not wishing to be rude or anything, but perhaps research the fish before you buy it? Its the judgement call your making to buy the fish then deal with the issues of what it actually is later thats causing the problems. If you can work on building up the reserve so as you dont impulse buy at the shop when your there, and perhaps things would be easier. Make selections in the home, and then go out and look for the fish, choosing from a display collection then taking it home is perhaps a bit too optimistic as a method for successful fishkeeping.

By lucky happenstance the parrots are (more or less) compatible with your existing fish, and water perams should be fine, though they will have no defence if your GT kicks off at them. Those lips of theirs will barely work, and they are never the healthiest of fish, and controlling their abnormal weight gain in the presence of other species can be tricky. Imagine for a moment though, if you'd bought a baby jaguar or synspilum, a devil, a dovi, a convict, or an oscar. Could have been disastrous.

The parrots...well, its always a moral quandary, they way they are bred, often dyed and spread diseases from the worst importers is a major ethical issue in fishkeeping.Incidentally, you were worried about a six inch fish before. Now youve bought two that will be anything up to 10 inches, (theyve got some midas cichlid genes in there!) be heavy at that size, and have a heavy bioload, and because of gill deformity, need high o2 too.

Read before you buy, and quit with the buying on a whim, thats all I can really recommend. I almost wish there was a more complex explan to give with lots of tips, but ultimately if you stop buying fish on a whim and only finding out about them after purchase, then things wont go so wrong. This is more a buyer habit issue than a fishkeeping issue. Often the way it goers, looking for a cunning way to sort problems out when the obvious answer is hovering like an 8 foot gorilla over your shoulder ready to hit you with a tree trunk sized club of a truth.lol.

Be strong grasshopper, show reserve,keep readingand asking for advice, the rest sorts itself out.lol

Still get quite overexcited at the thought of buying fish myself on occassion. Its easy to get caught up in the moment.

Go with a wishlist of prechecked compatible species that you want, and can safetly have, if theres nothing there at the shop on the list, dont buy anything. If theres something you like the look of but want to check out, dont buy it, write its latin name down and google it when you get home. I assume you could always reserve the fish later in the afternoon by phone if you find out it is one you want. Sounds like faffing about , but its nothing compared to the faffing about and worry that comes from having to deal with a nihilistic fish in the wrong community.

Paper and pen is the answer methinks. Laptop probably excessive .lol. Maybe an iphone more portable, though you could probably spend the price of a fish on looking it up on an iphone.lol.

You are right, of course.
It WAS an impulse purchase. There is an Excellent fish store with Very Knowledgable people who special ordered me an Eartheater (Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus), But after driving the 100 miles to get there (all Excited)....they were closed for easter Sunday. So, being the idiot that I am, I "wasn't going home without a fish"....and went to PS.

Except for that one great far away store, the selection in other stores are "limited" and seldom have what I want at the time. I guess I should make phone inquiries after making my desired list ("Doh"..to quote Homer Simpson, in realizing my impulse and stupidity)

(If I had enough money for a wireless laptop...I could buy a 250g tank and be less concerned with room for "fairly compatable" fish. They'd all have their own territories) Ha!

You are right, I'm too impulsive.
But my research and study(besides the internet)...Is on this and other forums with stupid questions to knowledgable people.

Thank you for your advice. Now all I have to do is ask more "ignant" questions.
(more to be posted right after this reply)

Thanks again