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Blood Parrot
Alternative Name(s): Parrot Cichlid, Red Blood Parrot, Purple Parrot, Parrot Fish.
Scientific Name(s): Man Made Hybrid - No Scientific name.
Category: Tropical
Difficulty: 
Maximum Size: 23cms
Minimum Tank Volume: 180 litres
Minimum Tank Size: 4x2x2ft
Water Temperature Range: 23-28°C
Water pH Range: 6.5-7.5
Water Hardness Range: 8-15 dGH
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| General Information: |
Parrot cichlids are a usually unhealthy , partially handicapped, hybrid fish with spinal curvature, gill deformity, mouth, lip, and often gut compaction issues, abnormal weight gain, and behavioural problems. Superficially pretty to some, reviled by others. Natural colour ranges from white, creme, yellow ,orange, and reds, all other colours are dyed and should not be bought. |
| Tank Requirements: |
See Minimum Tank Volume and Minimum Tank Size above |
| Diet Requirements: |
Omnivore, comperable feeding regime to a severum, usual cichlid pellets, additional livefoods, and blanched greens, shredded,this fish cannot eat what cannot be swallowed whole due to deformity. |
| Compatibility: |
Hugely variable, specimens range from placid to aggressive, though the damage they can inflict is limited because of lip deformity. May harrass small fish and provoke other cichlids to attack. |
| Recommendations: |
Typical south american biotope, other species limited to peaceful yet large fish, roomy aquaria with low stocking to cope with high 02 requirement (genetic gill deformity), Steady temps. |
| Common Problems: |
More health issues than any other fish, disease from dyed specimens, few make full longevity. Dropsy, organ compaction, obesity, growth issues, cancer, herniation, lymphocystis, gill deformity |
| Similar Species: |
Thankfully none, this is an infertile chimaera, midas , convict, and archocentrus genes. A fish produced by perhaps the most exploitative part of the fish industry. Dont encourage the trade in them. |
| Sexing: |
Finnage is similar, males will often have a more pronounced seperation between head and body, females carry less deformity, gill covers often smaller, lip deformity less extreme on average. |
| Breeding: |
These fish are force bred with hormone injections. Males infertile, cannot be bred in the home, females lay eggs and pair will guard infertile brood. |
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