Answering Blood Parrot Questions | FAQ

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you for checking out the video. Below are timestamps to different sections of the video if you want to skip around. If you enjoy the video please give it a like and consider subscribing to my channel. It is a big help if you can! Also if there are any questions I can help answer for you let me know. 01:02 - Are they aggressive 02:10 - Chasing each other 03:12 - Mixing with monster fish 04:16 - Always hiding 05:48 - How large do they get 06:22 - How fast they grow 07:13 - Hybrid origin 08:42 - Keeping bright & colorful 09:54 - Black spots 11:26 - How to tell gender 12:36 - King Kong Parrots 12:54 - Ideal tank set up 14:16 - How many per tank 14:56 - Plants 16:01 - Breeding 16:38 - Eating trouble

[@74mouseman]

I've had two (about 5 inches each) in a 55 gallon tank with 4 giant danios and a yellow lab for over a year, no problems. One does dominate the other but much less as they have matured. Due to their small mouths, they really can't do any real damage to a decent-sized tank mate. They are hardy, entertaining and absolute pigs when feeding. I never, ever would have bought these fish but my son got them for me and I have to say that they are now among my favorite all-time fish. I will probably always keep them from now on.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Haha that's kind of similar for me. I never planned to get them but my girlfriend and I saw giant ones in a store one day. She fell in love and after keeping them I now love them too

[@Omkar_-168]

Do small parrots juveniles get black spots when i add them in my tank from store ???

[@1uhot426]

I have 4 blood parrots, 2 gold severums, 2 oscars, n a pleco in a 125 gallon. Wave makers help....ALOT with their shyness. It also helps with aggressive behavior in ciclids. When they mate, they most likely will do it in a flower pot, place it facing upright, so u cant see when they go in. Also increase the temperature a for the mating process. They grew fast for me in 2 years, then it slowed down after that. They're about 4 inches or so. N they change color like i change my drawers lol but i think its because my tank is just like a big sex pool lol they dropped eggs 2 times now.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Good to know about wave makers. They are a piece of equipment I have not tried yet. Maybe I will give them a try

[@FoolyLiving]

Your tank is very pretty and your fish are, too!

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you! I appreciate that

[@missthang4982]

Thank you! Sudbury, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦 ✌️

[@TheAquaticCoder]

You're welcome, cheers!

[@nick92028]

Best food I have found for them is Vibra Bites. It floats, then sinks. It is high in nutrition. All fish love it. It is skinny enough to fit in their little mouth.

[@1uhot426]

Yeah, the lady at petsmart put me on to them. The act as a supplement to blood worms, n help boost thier color. They definitely love them, n frozen shrimp lol the will get so excited they will jump out the damn water. I have 4.

[@claudinejonas4117]

Very knowledgeable! This is my first time getting these fish 💕💕💕💕🙏🏿🙍🏿‍♀️

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun keeping them!

[@rosabustamante7137]

i did research only 1 blood Parrot can be in a 29 gallon? And also what tank mate can be with a convict in 29 gallon?

[@paulkruger491]

I have 10..My favorite fish.

[@annie-gracesmith774]

This is super helpful!!! What are those pink guys with the red fins?? I’m looking for some tank mates that aren’t OSCARS or anything absolutely enormous!

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I'm glad it was. Thanks for the feedback. Are they the ones in my main tank with the stripes?

[@WendyCameron-s4r]

Thank you for posting this informative video. 😊

[@TheAquaticCoder]

You're welcome, I appreciate you watching!

[@chow.gaming]

i love parrot cichlids

[@missdietrich97]

Lots of my questions answered. Thank you

[@bcain3729]

I've got one in a community 125 with red spot severum, angels, and electric blue acara. Bert's my favorite! I must have hit the jackpot when i got him. He doesn't display any of the bad characteristics. His mouth isn't deformed like a lot I've seen, and he doesn't have the pronounced beak look. Beautiful fish. Not really into cave dwelling. I have a wave maker and he likes to get up and swim in the current. Very personable. I keep my hands out of my tank, but if i wanted I'm sure he'd let me touch him. Complete hog is the only thing I can say negative about him. Likes to eat so better be willing to put some maintenance in cleaning. I'd highly recommend getting one no matter. His personality rubs off on my other fish and has made my community tank much better.

[@AnnaMariaCiniErak]

do you think they go well with scalars and platies?

[@Omkar_-168]

Do small parrots juveniles get black spots when i add them in my tank from store ???

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yes they can get them from that. Black spots are common in juveniles when they get stressed so them changing tanks will often cause it. They usually fade in a week or two

[@underthebus5801]

I’ve had my three Blood Parrots for a minimum of two years and if they’ve grown, it’s been minimal. They also faded from a nice rich red color soon after I brought them home. Otherwise they seem fine. I’ll be following your food recommendations. How often do you feed yours? I only feed once daily and sparingly. My aquarium is 180 gallons and occupied with tiger barbs and a couple of clown loaches. I would consider the stocking level as light. Thanks for your informative video. I just subscribed. 👍

[@TheAquaticCoder]

About how many inches are they right now? I've read they can be stunted so they possibly already were when you got them. I feed mine once a day and 1-2 times a week feed a second time in the same day with frozen food and usually one day of the week is a fasting day with no food. I wouldn't say a sparingly amount. When I started feeding my tanks I aimed for the "amount they will eat in 2 minutes" and not just estimate off of how much that was when I was trying to figure it out. I'm jealous of your 180, I hope to have one that large in the next few years haha. Also I appreciate the sub! Cheers!!

[@underthebus5801]

@@TheAquaticCoder One Parrot is approximately 4” and another is approximately 3”. The third parrot is acting strangely, hiding in plastic plants and showing pale and slightly red shades. I’ve been feeding pellets and Fluval Bug Bites but none have the color enhancers you reference in the video. Perhaps I should add some frozen blood worms or mysis shrimp in the food rotation. The 180 is a nice size. I hope you get yours sooner than expected. I purchased mine pre-owned and have had it over 15 years. I use Eheim canister filters: A 2262 and a 2215. I also have an old school trickle filter installed using pot scrubbies.

[@buendiaoma]

Hello friend, thank you very much for your advice, can you tell me what tank do you use with your fish?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

You're welcome! The tank in this video is from Current USA and it is a 65 gallon. You can find it on their website under "Serene Aquarium 65g". It looks to be sold out now though

[@bmeade1287]

I have 2 small Parrot now. Are Severums a good tank mate if they are similar in size?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yeah Severums will be great tank mates. Neither cichlid is too aggressive so I would expect to get along well for their whole life.

[@Stylzbypris.]

I have a 6” blood parrot cichlid and a 7 inch pleco fish can I add any other fish it’s a 60 gallon tank

[@avidhossanmansur9830]

I have a large Blood Parrot and for the last 4-5 days it has been laying upside down nearly motionless in the tank, sometimes up against the coral sometimes against the wall. As soon we open the top he pops right to attention and up to the top for food. Then swims for a bit and back to the bottom upside down.......anyone help? I am so worried about him/her. Also I have a small baby oscar is the tank he seems to be doing awsome.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I have never experienced this so I don't have any direct advice. I can only suggest to check the basics and ask some questions to hopefully identify the issue. #1 I'd test the water with a test kit. Besides that are the eating regularly? How long have you had them before this issue started?

[@avidhossanmansur9830]

@@TheAquaticCoder I've had him for about a month but I got him from my roommate who had him in a 55. He's been behaving like this since I added the oscar. The BP is bout 9 inches head to tail and the oscar is less than 2 inches. I think it"s a longfin variety because the fins and tail are growing like crazy! Id also like to add that he's prbably never been kept with another fish in his life! Previously my roommate had him by himself for about a year.

[@dianablakley1]

Can they be in tank with gold fish

[@angie2boys1hubby]

How many could you put in a 40 breeder?

[@bipolaraquatics]

Great video

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you!!

[@DanieL-by6xs]

Sellers of expensive parrots recommend tank temperature of 80-82 degrees...lower temp will result in some color fading. Do you see this in your experience ?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I've always kept mine at 78-80 so I can't really comment. At those temperatures mine have definitely shown nice color

[@LegendLife-di9xo]

I have a small blood parrot right now.I think it's of 1-2 inch for now.The problem is it's food,I.e the food pellets are kind of big for its small mouth.Still it breaks down the food and finally eats it within 2 minutes.I generally get it 2 pellets once in the morning everyday.Should I give more pellets per day or feed it twice the same amount(2 pellets) or just continue the same method?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yeah this can be tricky with parrots. Hopefully as they get larger is becomes easier. I'd say try and give it that many pellets twice a day. Keep your morning the same and then also do the same in the evening. Less risk of wasted food then.

[@mikefarina9743]

Could i keep 1 or 2 in a 40 breeder for their whole lives?

[@callumprice999]

I have two blue polar parrot ciclits , like you . One male and the other female - since I've had them (1 month) the male has just non stopped in chasing the female , who's fins are very nipped. any advice

[@TheAquaticCoder]

My experience is that this behavior calms down once they are adults. The only advice for now is to add more line of sight breaks (decorations, plants, etc) or to separate them until they are old if you have another tank.

[@MadonnaWescovich-sl3rn]

How do I tell if I have a male or female I have 2 and not sure if I have a male or female

[@R-cakes]

Hello! My friend gave me their blood parrot fish last year (November 30,2021) but they have bought the fish since 2019. It’s in a small aquarium since 2019 and last month(September) my friend told me why not transfer the fish to a bigger tank. So i did. It’s been a month now and i have noticed my blood parrot fish behavior has changed since i put him in a bigger tank Looks like he is still scared of the bigger tank even if it’s more than one month already(put him in the bigger tank last September 3). And i also noticed that his color lightened a bit. Should i put him back to his old smaller tank? I’m really worried about him especially in the morning he will just stay at the bottom of the filter and you can really see that he’s scared 😫

[@TheAquaticCoder]

No I think a bigger tank is always better. I have a video about color but the fading is probably just from a bit of stress due to a new environment. I'd suggest making sure they have a cave large enough for them so they can hide in there and feel comfortable. They love to hide. Otherwise just give them some more time.

[@R-cakes]

@@TheAquaticCoder Thank you! And you are right, I think his color only faded because of stress but now his color is returning to its vibrant color :)

[@TheAquaticCoder]

@@R-cakes Glad to hear! Mine still fade from time to time for a week or so. If it happens again I wouldn't worry about it. It could be a good reason to test your parameters but if everything looks as expected then no need to worry in my opinion.

[@R-cakes]

@@TheAquaticCoder My other blood parrot fish has not been eating for 1 day now and it’s very unusual of him because he loves his pellets a lot. Yesterday I’ve noticed that his stool looked like a worm so I think he got it. How should i do the deworming please?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

@@R-cakes That's unfortunate to hear. Sorry for the delay on a response as well. I don't have much experience with deworming so other videos talking about this is where I would look first. Personally I'd probably try paracleanse recommended here kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHW1pph3gb1jjMU

[@STORIEDAMAAN]

I had a convict pair in 29g. I shifted them to another tank. And bought a 4inch parrot and did wc, parameter check. He just HIDES. Was at lfs with several mbunas and haps he looks good physically but hides 99% time

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yeah Blood Parrots are known to hide and this is especially common if you only have one or a few of them. If you have a large enough tank then having multiple will make them more likely to come out. Otherwise I like to get a cave/hiding space I can easily see into so I can still see them.

[@sonjafoster2605]

Hey I rescued 5 blood parrot fish. I got them in a 55 gallon tank. Is that ok

[@TheAquaticCoder]

How large are the Parrots right now? For a while they should be good. At full size it might get crowded though.

[@onlywei]

I've seen blood parrots with different head shapes. Have you ever seen those? I'm talking especially about the ones with a smoother transition between the head and the rest of the body, rather than normal blood parrots that have a very distinct head.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yeah I think I have. If you are looking for a possible name it could either be a King Kong Parrots or Yuan Boa Blood Parrot. Probably Yuan Boa if it is the normal size of a Blood Parrot. Since they are hybrids there probably is more variations too but those are the ones I know how to search by name.

[@Omkar_-168]

Do small parrots juveniles get black spots when i add them in my tank from store ???

[@bcain3729]

I've got one with the less pronounced beak and funny mouth. Looks similar to my severums. He's longer bodied without any noticeable deformities. I don't like the one's that look like beaked goldfish. My parrot (Bert) is a beautiful fish. His orange color goes great with my jet black angel (Cool) that he likes to swim around with.

[@Andy-ty6gv]

Question Conor !!!! One of my blood parrot all sudden have a saggy stomach ! Is that a sign of pregnancy? I can’t tell if they male or female !! I have 8

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I never saw that in my female when she was breeding. Blood Parrots lay eggs though and I didn't notice any change to her stomach, although it logically makes sense that they would have a larger stomach before laying the eggs. Is the Blood Parrot behaving normally?

[@Andy-ty6gv]

@@TheAquaticCoder yes normally but swim a bit slower then before but stomach really sagging

[@joaniecastelli4428]

Can you have 2 blood parrots in a 29 gallon

[@craniumrex4614]

I wouldn’t. One in a 29. I heard that 3 is better than 2 to keep one from overtly dominating the other. You’d need a 55 gallon for 2.

[@Funsun39]

What kind of flow is best for a blood parrot? High,low med?

[@bcain3729]

I keep my water moving pretty fast. My parrot seems to love it. Likes to get up in the jetted water and swims against it. Funny to watch him doing it.

[@randyfox6747]

Do you have yo yo loaches in your aquarium with your parrot cichlids?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I used to. Right now I am keeping my yoyo loaches with Clown loaches and Polar Parrots. When I did keep Blood Parrots and my Yoyo Loaches I did not have any issues.

[@_im.so.bored_]

how much and how often should i change the water in my tank?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

It depends on a lot of factors. I personally do 50% every week on my tanks. It is more than needed but I like to stay on top of it so if something comes up and I skip a week or two it is no stress. What size tank do you have and what fish do you keep in it?

[@AlmaLeal-o3n]

Is it true that male blood parrot can’t Fertilize the eggs

[@bcain3729]

Most are infertile, but not all.

[@paulkruger491]

my parrots killed my cory catfish. in one day.

[@1uhot426]

Females tend to be more plump while males tend to be more longer. I dont know what u call it, but the white thing at the bottom of males tends to be larger then females too. They cant breed with the same sex, but they can breed successfully with other ciclids, dont b fooled lol

[@jamezoddjob12]

awesome video, I set up a 125G and got 5 of them. When they are small what is the best type of sinking food for them? I bought some "sinker" food and it wont sink, so they seem to be interested in the catfish sinker I have but spit it out right away, same with the flakes that get pushed down to them. Also for their cave, besides the flower pots, is it pretty much get some rocks and drift wood and just kinda stack it around so they can swim in and out of it?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you! Of the foods I've tried the "Omega One Small Sinking Cichlid Pellets for Color" tended to sink nice, be small enough to fit in their mouth, and be enjoyed by them

[@TheAquaticCoder]

And yeah that's pretty much the idea for caves. I personally like to stack a long flat rock on top of two to create a cave they can fit under