THE BLOOD PARROT CICHLID-HYBRID

There are two types of cichlids that are refered to as a parrot cichlid. The original parrot cichlid, or hoplarchus psittacus is a South American Cichlid that is very rarely seen in the aquarium hobby. The second fish that is referred to as the Parrot Cichild is the blood parrot cichlid. This article is focused on the Blood Parrot Cichlid.

The Blood Parrot Cichlid is a man-made hybrid fish. This is a cross between a Red Devil Cichlid and a Gold Severum Cichild. There are other Crosses that equate nearly the same results. The Blood Parrot Cichild has the same shape as the Parrot Cichlid and comes in a variety of blotching colors including reds, oranges and yellows. Sometimes the unique coloration of the Blood Parrot Cichlid is due to the fish being dyed. This is a crewel and disgusting practice and to make matters worse, the dyed color does not stay.

When I was first introduced to the Blood Parrot Cichlid I was not at all impressed. They reminded me of odd Goldfish. Someone brought me one that was sick and I took it home and cared for it. It was as the fish got better that I found out about their remarkable personality. They are perhaps one of the oddest Cichlids I have ever encountered. They have a tenacious streak that is crossed with immense shyness but their personality is something that is truly amazing. I have kept them with many different kinds of fish including smaller Tetra. I currently have a 55 gallon tank with three Blood Parrots and Three Heart Parrots. The smallest Parrot is about three inches long. She, for I think she is a she, bosses everyone around. They live with two very large Synspilum Cichilds and a Silvani Cichild. It is not uncommon to see this little parrot lock lips with the large Male Synspilum Cichild ( 10 inches) and push him all over the tank. I have never quite figured out what sets her off. All of the Cichilds in this tank have their own space and the two Synspilum's are a mated pair. She will go out of her way to root them out of their cave and then spend the day lurking there. By nightfall she goes back to her own cave. These fish have lived together for the past two years. I do not recommend keeping fish together that fight. The aggression that I have described in the above scenario is very mild, and the fighting is half hearted on the part of the Synspilum's. There is no damage being done to either fish. They simply accept her as the boss and go about their day.

Care:

When you exercise the proper care for the parrot cichlid, you can expect them to live for up to a decade. Most Blood Parrot Cichilds have a fixed jaw. This means that they are not capable of moving their mouths. Feeding them is sometimes a challenge because they must suck their food into their mouth. I primarily feed mine live blood worms which they will eat off of a plastic fork. They will sometimes eat “chunky foods” which are small pieces of squid, clams, etc. Like all Cichlids they need some vegetable matter in their diet. A good quality algae tablet works well.

These fish need freshwater each week. Failure to provide clean water conditions can result in the fish developing disease and more extremely, even death. Hole-in-the-head disease is common among Cichlids. This is primarily caused by not changing their water. If you are going to keep fish plan on doing weekly water changes. Change 10-20 percent of their water each week. If you can not commit to this basic care then do not keep fish.

Compatible Fish:

The Blood Parrot Cichlid or Purple Heart Parrot Cichlid is generally a peaceful sort, they can be aggressive. This is especially true if they can move their jaws. While I have kept them with many different types of fish, including small Tetra's, this is not a practice that I recommend to new fish keepers. I would keep them with similar sized fish. Some compatible fish for the Blood Parrot Cichlid or Purple Heart Cichlid include Severum, Geophagus, Threafin Cichilds, Giant Danio, Congo Tretra, Roseline Sharks, Rainbowfish, and small mouthed catfish. Sometimes it is ok to mix in Angelfish, Swordtails and Silver Dollars. You should note that when in spawning mode, the Blood Parrot Cichlid can interbreed with other Cichlids in your aquarium.

Breeding

The Parrot Cichlid is an egg layer. They will lay eggs on any smooth surface they prepare beforehand. The female lays the eggs and the male provides fertilization. Unfortunately, most male Parrot Cichlids are sterile, so the breeding can be an arduous process. Both the male and female will care for the eggs until they develop a white fungus and then they usually consume them. If fortune smiles upon the pair and they are capable of producing young, they will take care of their babies. The females will sometimes mate with other species of Cichlids, which results in varieties such as the purple heart parrot Cichlid.

Habitat Requirements

You will need at least a 55-gallon tank aquarium to hold a parrot Cichlid, as they can reach a length up to 12 inches. Fill the tank with some rocks and caves, as they can be shy and need places to hide in their habitat. You can add plants to the aquarium, but they are not necessary to the well being of the Parrot Cichlid. The pH of the water can range from 6.0 to 8.0, with a hardness of 2-25 degrees dGH, in temperatures ranging from 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Parrot Cichlid is one of the most amazing of the Cichlids that are found in the hobby. It takes some time to get to know these fish but the pay-off is well worth the investment. They are virtual entertainers and provide hours of amusement. Like other Cichlids do the research before you buy one. They work well alone, in pairs of in groups.