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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: Cichlid
Difficulty: 
Maximum Size: 25cms
Minimum Tank Volume: 250 litres
Minimum Tank Size: 48" x 18" x 18"
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: |
Blood Parrot Cichlids are a hybrid fish, usually unhealthy and partially handicapped with spinal curvature, gill, mouth and lip deformities 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, through to oranges and reds. All other colours are dyed and should not be bought. |
| Tank Requirements: |
Absolute minimum of 50 gallons for these and good filtration and as they are sensitive to poor water quality. Regular partial changes are needed. |
| Diet Requirements: |
Omnivore with a comparable feeding regime to a Severum. Usual cichlid pellets, additional live foods, and blanched shredded greens. 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 with 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: |
Various cichlid hybrids created by man for their looks, but similarly afflicted with deformities. |
| Sexing: |
Finnage is similar, males will often have a more pronounced separation between head and body; females carry less deformity, gill covers often smaller, lip deformity less extreme on average. |
| Breeding: |
Males were originally thought infertile, but some successful breeding has occurred. Females are fertile and the pair will guard eggs either way. |
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