Q&A for How to Keep Parrot Cichlids

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I have two red parrot fish and I wish to add a yellow one. Can I place the yellow one in the same tank as the red ones?

Community Answer

Yes, they are all the same breed, so you shouldn't have any issues.

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Question

Is it okay to have a lot of parrot cichlids in one 4 liter tank?

Community Answer

No, it is not enough space for all of them.

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Question

Is it possible to keep blood parrot and angelfish together?

Community Answer

Yes, you just need to have a big enough tank so they can have their space, and add some plants for the blood parrot to hide in.

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Question

How can I keep my parrots from fighting?

Priyanshu SharMa

Community Answer

This is a natural behavior of cichlids. Add some hiding place or add some new fish.

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Question

Can I mix them with goldfish?

Community Answer

I wouldn't. Goldfishes are too docile and might lose the food war with parrot cichlids. Also, common goldfish require a pond as they get very big.

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Question

How can I help my red parrot fish heal after getting hole-in-the-head disease?

Community Answer

Hole-in-the-head disease is a symptom of poor tank health, but there are a lot of things you can do to help. Use anti-parasite medications, change the tank water frequently, keep the temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and add aquarium salt in the amount recommended on the box. Also, remove any carbon from the filters. The scars will remain, but the disease itself will dissipate.

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Question

Why is my yellow parrot fish turning a light orange color?

Community Answer

Check its food. There is specific food to particular colored parrot fish.

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Question

If I have a two-foot aquarium with four medium sized parrot fish, can two small oscars fit in there?

Community Answer

Each of these fish can grow up to 6" so I would not put them all in that one tank.

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Question

Can one parrot cichlid be on its own in a tank or should I provide tank mates?

Community Answer

Parrot fish are both shy and bit aggressive (especially males), but you can have more parrot fish in tank, depending upon tank size (volume) and many hiding spots. You can add top dwelling or schooling types (mild and non-aggressive) like tinfoil, but definitively not gold fish.

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Question

How do I increase the pH level?

Community Answer

Use baking soda to raise the pH levels in your fish tank. However, be sure to take your fish out of the tank while you add the baking soda in. The sudden change in the water before it dissolves could shock your fish. For every five to six gallons of water, add one teaspoon of baking soda.

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Question

Can I use aquarium salt in the tank?

Community Answer

Yes, you can.

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Question

Is an African cichlid or a bigger-sized fish compatible with a parrot fish?

Community Answer

African cichlids and parrot cichlids are from different parts of the world and have different water requirements, so they should not be housed together. A bigger-sized fish might be compatible, but size should not be the only factor in this decision.

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Question

Will my parrots breed if I live in a climate that is 40 C?

Community Answer

Parrot cichlids are a hybrid of two other types of Central American cichlids, and are infertile. They may lay eggs, but they cannot breed at all.

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Question

Can I use marble stones for blood parrot fish?

Community Answer

Yes, just make sure to clean underneath and around them with a siphon during weekly water changes.

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Question

Can I keep six parrot fish in a 68 gallon tank?

Community Answer

No, it is too small of a space and they may injure or kill each other when fighting for dominance in such a crowded space.

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Question

Can I have floating plants in my tank?

Community Answer

Yes, although they may chew them up. Hardier plants are recommended as plastic plants will choke or kill the fish, and softer plants will wilt and die under their constant biting.

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Question

What age and gender would a parrot fish that is twice the size of a goldfish?

Community Answer

Goldfish range in sizes, from a dime to a foot long at least. So it’s hard to tell gender and age by your description.

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Question

Is 28 degrees C ideal for parrot fishes, or should I increase the temperature to 30 C?

Community Answer

The ideal living temperature for your parrot cichlids is 28 degrees C.

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Question

My parrot fish has laid eggs on a rock. I have separated the rock into another tank. What care should I take of eggs?

Community Answer

It is good to separate the rock, because parrot fish are artificially bred and mostly infertile. Since the eggs are infertile, they will rot in few days (colorless eggs turn white). The parrot fish will consume the eggs if left alone.

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Question

Can I keep my parrot in an aquarium?

Community Answer

Yes, that's where they need to be kept to ensure the correct water parameters.

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Question

Can l put blood parrot with goldfish?

Community Answer

No, most definitely not. Goldfish require 60-70 degree water, while parrot cichlids are tropical, requiring 75-80 degree water.

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Question

Can I put a flowerhorn and parrot fish in the same tank?

Community Answer

Flowerhorns are best kept alone, as they can get very aggressive and need a lot of space.

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Question

Are pacus good companions for parrot cichlids?

Community Answer

Yes, they sure are, as long as neither fish can fit into the other's mouth and the tank is big enough for a full-sized pacu and parrot. Pacus, in general, are docile fish that get along with everyone until they fit inside their mouths. Pacus grow big fast.

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Question

Can I keep a pair of parrot in 40 gallon tank (40"×20" by 18" )?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. 30 gallons for the initial parrot and 10 gallons for the additional one.

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Question

Which filtration is best for them?

Community Answer

Since they require big tanks, a canister filter is the most popular and effective choice as it can hold more filter media which is beneficial for a big tank.

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Question

I have one blood parrot cichlid in a one-foot aquarium. From day 2, it has not been playing around, instead it has just been sleeping or resting at a corner. Why is this so?

Community Answer

The tank is too small for fish. It needs at least a 3-foot aquarium. Due to it being in a small aquarium, it is suffering from stress and risks dying soon. Shift it to a big tank.

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Question

Bought 2 pair parrot fish last week. It is always hiding inside the plant. I can see they swim only for food. Will it be always like this only or it will swim after some weeks?

Community Answer

This is common. Due to their shy nature, they may hide. Once they are accustomed to the aquarium, they may come out and swim.

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Question

How can I know if my blood parrot is male or female?

Community Answer

Check on anal fins. If the fins are rounded and shorter, then the fish is female. However, if the fins are pointed at the end of the fins, then the fish is male. There's only one thing: in some cases, the female parrot fish might have a pointed fins at the end.

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Question

Is a parrot cichlid an easygoing fish?

Community Answer

Basically they are shy in the beginning, but once it is used with your tank, they are one of the easygoing fish. Always keep some hiding spots.

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Question

Can I keep parrot cichlids with other fish?

Community Answer

You can add any cichlids with them, but make sure the fish size is at least 1/3 of your parrot size, so it wont eat them also add some hiding spots.

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