How to keep Blood Parrots BRIGHT & COLORFUL? 6 Tips

How do you keep Blood Parrots brightly colored? Are they doomed to fade as they age? Today I wanted to share what I've done to keep mine bright and if there is research out there that we can learn from.
- Recommended Blood Parrot Food -
Blood Red Parrot+ Pellets - amzn.to/2RHAZOL
Vibra Bites - amzn.to/3mUmS3V
Super Color Cichlid Pellets - amzn.to/3fXBnBp
Repashy Gel Food - amzn.to/3rqr1Rk
- Lights I am using -
Current USA Serene Sun - amzn.to/2MHqKrw
- Canthaxanthin Studies Referenced -
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10499-016-0068-z
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00343-019-7172-7
- Astaxanthin Studies Referenced -
en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-AHNY200820085.htm
en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-SHDX201004017.htm
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#cichlid #parrotcichlid #bloodparrot
- Music Credits -
Dance, Don't Delay by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: www.twinmusicom.org/song/303/dance-dont-delay
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org
- Video Sections -
00:00 - Intro
01:43 - Selecting Parrots
03:27 - Carotenoids In Diet
07:37 - Varied Diet
08:49 - Lighting
10:16 - Tank Design
12:12 - Proper Care

[@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. 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - Selecting Parrots 03:27 - Carotenoids In Diet 07:37 - Varied Diet 08:49 - Lighting 10:16 - Tank Design 12:12 - Proper Care

[@juliansolo5000]

Thanks for all the tips! I took home one lone blood parrot from my LFS for my 55g. It’s been at the store for a few weeks and looked sad to me with black spots on its belly and fins, I had got a new 55g set up with 6 black skirt tetras and I was waiting for the right fish to add. I watched him for half hour in the fish store and he stayed it the same corner. Once he’s been home he’s been so active, happy and has even colored up!

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I'm glad they are doing so well in your tank! Happy to hear you gave them a great home

[@nick92028]

I agree on the food 100%. Hikari Blood Red Parrot and Hikari Vibra Bites are not just great at improving color, but are also some of the best for overall nutrition.

[@bigfree7]

My large old blood parot lives in my goldfish pond at 62°. She's a good eater and very active and competitive for floating food.

[@randyfox6747]

Thanks for all your advice Conor

[@TheAquaticCoder]

You're welcome! I appreciate you checking out the video and commenting

[@tinaschilling]

I love all of your videos. Thanks so much ❤

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I appreciate that! Cheers!

[@Gurusum6]

When the lights are off or dim at night all of my parrots fade in color, I assumed it was just a sign of them resting. I've noticed this in a lot of different fish, actually.

[@AmazonPuffers]

Good Video man

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you!

[@taylorsprincz3624]

I have the current loop lights and I set them to those numbers and my tank looked way different more blue than purple

[@Rainmaker0007]

Better question would be how to keep blood Parrots from getting swim bladder. I've had to needle decompress mine 3 times.

[@petercsigo3314]

Have you tried to control the water hardness with natural regulator. What is your opinion about that?

[@user-sz3hs5ig7w]

Hello Brother! How many jumbo parrot fish can I kept in my 3.5feet tank it’s around 200Litre? Kindly Response

[@onehitterquitter2130]

Substrate plays a part in the color of blood parrots. I have one with black sand an he is glowing orange. The other one I have is with brownish sand an he's not nearly as orange as when he was on black sand.

[@violamckar8585]

I agree on that, we have the white sand our babies our bright orange🥰🙏

[@Nick_just_nick]

Thanks for the video, I always wanted a few of these fish since I have an empty 110 gallon and I’ve been doing tons of research on this but noticed that they lose color as they grow, my local fish store has some beautiful one in the owners personal tank and all the babies they sell are from Local breeders so should be decent quality fish

[@TheAquaticCoder]

That sounds like good stock to get started. But yeah just using Hikari Blood Parrot+, a varied diet, and having a light with some red hue should lead to them looking pretty bright as they age. Can't say for 100% but that should give you the best chances. Best of luck with yours if you do get them!

[@Nick_just_nick]

@@TheAquaticCoder thanks

[@joshuapruitt1591]

What is the name of the lights you are using? I am looking at changing the ones I use on my 5’ 120-gal tank.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

I use the Current USA Serene Sun lights

[@m.y6231]

Do they needed a heater to increase their coloring to the skin? Mine are outside and but water is little cold side should i buy heater?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

You ideally want the water to be above 72 F (22 C). If it is below that then a heater is ideal. Otherwise as long as it is above then they should be fine with the temperature.

[@tanyamiller4112]

Love your channel I have 2 of these myself.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thanks I appreciate that! Keeps me motivated to hear stuff like this! How old are the two you have?

[@MediTANKtion]

Hey! I just moved my parrots to a 125. I have an fx4. Is that too much flow? They seem fine but they’re hiding a lot more since I moved them. Any thoughts?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

There is a good chance that the hiding is from the stress of them moving tanks. I don't think high slow should be an issue for Parrots. You also could adjust the output of the filter to aim towards the top or a specific side to reduce overall flow in the tank and give them some calm spots to swim in

[@MediTANKtion]

@@TheAquaticCoder thanks man!

[@Doberman_Pinscher_Lover]

I was wondering why mines loved algae wafers he's an awesome color too!

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Haha glad to hear! My Blood Parrots seem to love any type of food. I have to put extra food for the bottom feeders or my Parrots will just eat it all before them

[@Doberman_Pinscher_Lover]

@TheAquaticCoder 🤣 seriously dude is greedy I've been putting half clam for my GSP the community is all over it. The GSP doesn't know he's king of the tank yet. When that happens... I wonder how many will become lunchtime snacks.

[@ANTONl027]

3:00 RIP MOBY 🪦 😔

[@bungamarry2422]

i want helthly feed

[@tahawi1707]

Great Video!! this is not me trying to be mean, so please dont take it that way. but i suggest you get a teleprompter to read from. they have cheap ones on amazon. i use one to record interviews.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Thank you and no worries. I actually want to improve at reading less and just talking directly to the camera more. I appreciate the suggestion though!

[@adrians868]

How's it going i have a blood parrot but it's agressive towards it's tank mates. The tank mates are an electric blue acara, firemouth, a rainbow shark, and a school of 4 silver dollars in a 55 gallon. Any suggestions?

[@adrians868]

Also, they are all juveniles

[@adrians868]

@Asad Tarique Yes i have 3 hides in the tank for all fish the blood parrot has also claimed its territory which is why he is agressive and territorial

[@TheAquaticCoder]

It's going well. That's unfortunate that you have a more aggressive parrot. Some are although most are relatively peaceful for a cichlid their size. As Asad recommended plenty of hiding spaces and decorations is the best advice. If you can add any tall plants or decorations to break line of site more that will help. If you decide to get more decorations/plants maybe re-arrange all of the decorations when you add them so maybe he'll pick a new specific territory. Upgrading tank size isn't always easy but if possible that's the most likely way to get him to calm down. Is there a specific fish he goes after most or is it split pretty evenly?

[@adrians868]

@@TheAquaticCoder Yeah i have moved the hides around they're all hides and i have mid sized plants in there i may need to buy tall ones as you suggest that's a good idea. I believe it's a female since it's fins are curved and not pointed, she goes after any fish that enters it's hide/territory mainly. I have not seen her chase any fish today so the agression is not as bad

[@Hawkeyeshy06]

I have a 40 gal breeder tank is 2 blood parrots too. Much?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

That is just on the edge of the size I would recommend. I think it would be alright but probably not many other tank mates. I have two larger Oranda's in a 40 gal breeder that are not much smaller than Blood Parrots so that's why I think it would work. Just keep an eye on nitrates and such.

[@chiruboy23]

Dimension of the tank behind you plz?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

It is a 65 gallon tank. 18 inches X 18 inches X 48 inches long

[@1uhot426]

I use pvc pipes as caves

[@millefolium9303]

Concidering buying a blood parrod, but i have other cichlids also. What would happen if i feed food like this and my Electric blue acaras eat it?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Other cichlids will not have any issues eating Blood Parrot specific food.

[@millefolium9303]

@@TheAquaticCoder No, i meant if the food is made for making the blood parrot more red, what colour will the blue fish end up being? Or does the food just enhance any colour.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

@@millefolium9303 Oh okay, my bad for misunderstanding. I really don't know but I have Blue Angelfish eating this type of food and they still turned out looking great (not any hints of red or anything). Since some Blue Acaras have an orange mark on their fins it would probably enhance that. I don't know if it would affect the blue much.

[@millefolium9303]

@@TheAquaticCoder Okey thank you. I did end up buying the blood parrot by the way. She is so cute and my daughter named her Blubbi 🥰

[@TheAquaticCoder]

@@millefolium9303 That name fits a Blood Parrot well lol. I'm glad you got one. Best of luck with them! They are a fun fish from my experience.

[@rudex3825]

can i keep red/parrot with polar parrot?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yes you can. I have without any issues. It is possible to get aggressive ones that don't work but I had no issues

[@VVilas21]

How to keep yellow parrot yellow

[@life_motivation_spirituali6333]

Dude. How to breed this fish. With what kind of male cichlid , female parrot should be paired with ??

[@TheAquaticCoder]

There are many theories for exactly how Blood Parrots are breed. I don't know for sure myself. I've read different thoughts on the topic before that conflict. The most common theory is a Redhead Cichlid and a Midas/Red Devil. Female Blood Parrots are usually fertile but the males are not. If you wanted to breed them my best bet would be a female Blood Parrot and a male Midas/Red Devil. It might be hard to find a Midas that will tolerate a Blood Parrot though as they are very aggressive.

[@skmaquarium]

In my personal experience I would suggest that a canister or sump filter with good quality bio media as per the tank size and secondly food as sir discussed Hikari.... remaining your fishes will start enjoying their life as a result you ll see the colour...

[@paulkruger491]

Beautiful fish., I have 10 Parrot fish.

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Nice! I definitely want that many one day when I have the space

[@paulkruger491]

@@TheAquaticCoder I got them in two tanks. Got my last 6 at A Meijer store 75% off every fish. Got 6 for $20. couldn't pass that deal.

[@kylehaberman5054]

I heard Chilli powder

[@F.a.B.I.a.N]

*The number ONE color enhancement is WATER QUALITY when your WATER is HEALTHY your fish will have VIBRANT colors...*

[@andres_cutler1695]

Ive had 3 blood parrots in my life all have died of fungal infections which sucks

[@bloodykiwi1235]

Yikes, i just got 1 and I'm super worried about dieases in any pet I own. Did you diagnose it and what happened to be the culprit?

[@kweenkashmereiman]

Mines had the same problem but I used the salt in a box. I can’t remember the name and this certain bacteria medicine 3 days in a row and now all my babies are healthy with no spots very big fish now. I hope that helps if purchase more fish babies 🥰💕

[@onsloth]

Damn I kinda wanted one with black spots. I didn't know it was a bad thing

[@TheAquaticCoder]

There are ones called "Tiger Parrots" which keep their black spots and it is not a bad thing. They are more rare in stores though. If you look at Predatory Fin's website you can see examples of them under the "Parrot Cichlid" section.

[@nebulis6509]

@@TheAquaticCodermy local store has a decent collection of tigers and purples I’m wanting to keep with my polar blue pair, would you recommend or just to get an ordinary blood parrot?

[@TheAquaticCoder]

@@nebulis6509 If you lile the look better of the Purple or Tigers over the regular one I'd go with one of them. Otherwise if you prefer the regular they are pretty common so it doesn't hurt to wait. Besides that if they look colorful and healthy I'd say go for it.

[@nebulis6509]

@@TheAquaticCoder I did end up getting an ordinary juvenile as I like the yellowish look, and he has some decent black patterning that I'm hoping he may keep some of. Frankly the difference in size between my polar parrots and the tigers was too much! I am curious if you've had any experience with other parrot hybrids as these guys have been a recent obsession of mine?

[@1uhot426]

I swear all the ones in petstores i see look malnourished n stressed. I thought of giving up one of mine, n i know it would sell IMIDIATELY lol

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Yeah unfortunately I see the same. I've thought of buying ones from chain stores where they are cheap and getting them healthy to sell. Whenever I see large healthy ones at stores (rarely) they are always $150+ in my area

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

Oddly enough, koi food

[@TheAquaticCoder]

Any brand / type you would recommend?

[@Constantine_Cvl8]

@@TheAquaticCoder Anything advertised as "color enhancing". I don't know any international brands because I use a mainly SE Asian brand called Takari, as I live in Indonesia.

[@tinitoni225]

yes easy way to make people fool..if your aquarium light is red then it will already glow...u just change the light dont make people fool