[Bill Hunter]

Sorry for my delay in getting back to this thread.
This was my first experience of receiving fish in breathable bags. But not my first experience of receiving fish by this delivery method. While there is no scientific evidence for anything I relate may I add my own observations?
Fish arriving in “normal” bags usually arrived a little stressed, except for fighters, they usually settle down immediately on arrival and spawn within 2 days due to the change in water chemistry I would assume. Other Gourami and Betta species often arrive a little stressed and require a week or two to settle. The Paros, however, seemed to be not phased in the slightest. They were under the leaves in the bag when unpacked but immediately came out of the leaves and appeared very calm. On introduction to their tanks the Paros remained calm and not in the slightest bit timid. They feed and swim around, they don’t hide very often and I see them every day and can see they are happy and content.
I’m not going to claim that this was down to the breathable bags because, as I said, this was my first experience with those type of bags. It may, in fact, be down to the natural disposition of the Paros.
In contrast, a friend, around the same time, received some Betta species from the UK which were, for some inexplicable reason, held for 24 hours longer than they should have been, they were in “normal” bags, all 8 fish died within 48 hrs of arrival, I think 2 were dead on arrival. My feeling is, if they had been in breathable bags they may well have survived their delay. I don’t think for one moment that it was poor packing by the vendor, but the delay. I think breathable bags may help any fish if they were to be subject to a delay by postal/courier services.
The Paros are growing and colouring up nicely, the juveniles in particular. A male P. phoenicurus is practicing his courtship rituals and so is one of the male P. nagyi. I wish all fish could arrive so happy and content.
Bill