Animal Stories - People Talking About Cichlids



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Latest Animal Stories on Cichlids (1233)

GazzLeoanrd - 2012-10-12
A very rare find here in Australia, I just picked up 2 of these awesome little guys with another 2 on the way, I got the first 2 at around 6 to 8cm in size and with good food and on schedule water changes and good filtration these 2 have put on 2 to 4cm each within 3 weeks, They are an amazing fish which not many people in OZ can get so i consider myself very lucky to have them. AWESOME UARU!!

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Clarice Brough - 2012-10-12
They really are nice looking fish, I'm so happy for you! (and maybe just a little envious...lol)

john curry - 2011-07-09
Thanks for the in-depth info about this species. One question - this is one of the few places that I have read that these gobies are omnivores that can tolerate being fed brine shrimp. Several other sources have said that this can cause digestive problems.
I just bought some gobies for my Tanganyika tank. All other inhabitants thrive on live food - I feed brine shrimp once every three days and cichlid flakes the other two. You don't think that this will cause them problems?

Thanks! - John

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Charlie Roche - 2011-07-09
No, you shouldn't have any problems. The Animal World owners have I would think 50 years between them in experience in raising all sorts of fish, as pets and commercially and I have never found them to be in error.
Paul Loiselle furthur writes in this article http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=61

"Equally amazing is the sight of a goby cichlid holding position in mid-water through strenuous exercise of the piscine equivalent of the dog paddle as it snaps up live brine shrimp".

WaelSaikaly - 2012-04-30
I have four relatively small parrots living in a 200 liters tank, I brought a Red Devil that is bigger than them. would the Red Devil hurt the parrot if I put it in the same tank?

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Tory - 2012-07-04
If your red devil is territorial and aggressive than yes it will harm your parrot fish. I have a red devil that is almost 6 years old and about 12 inches long. He has killed a blood parrot before as well as a tiger oscar that was actually bigger than him. I do not recommend having them in the same tank.

Dont need to no - 2012-08-08
Ok I have hade a male jd for about 3-4 months and my mom just got me a female and she has a prity good 3 inches on him she is about 5 and she is about 8 can eny 1 tell me breeding behaviour the maid beds all ove my 55 gal I gust cleand it and the rearanged it how they wanted he keeps doing this dance around her bust she does not seem interested but she stays right near him I really dont have a question but just wanted to share

Gary - 2012-03-11
I have successfully mated a male turquoise severum with striped convict. The young are gorgeous!! What a adventure!

Jayson Ratigan - 2012-05-20
So amazing as it seems they say you shouldn't put jack dempseys in anything smaller than a 55 gallon am I correct? Well I started my pair in a 10 GALLON....... I currently have them in a 20 gallon and I am now being forced to upgrade due to my surprise of walking in to feed them and seeing at least 200 fry swimming all over the place in the tank..... I am just hoping they don't decide to go near my filter and get sucked in :D anyone want some fish?

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Shd - 2012-06-11
Yeah you use tap water, then the stuff that neutralizes the cornile in the water, just be sure to follow the directions on the bottle. You need to have a filter too. The basic rule for fish is 1 inch of fish per gallon of water, so try not to overfill it. I have a bit over that, I have 10 fish in a 10 gallon tank but one is a algae eater, so he stays out of the way of the others, just stays along the wall. You will need a light and possibly a heater depending on the type of fish you have, they will let you know at the pet store.

Janie Dennis - 2010-10-26
I have a 55 gallon tank, I have all real wood and plants. I have one plecostomus, one dragon fish, one african water frog, three blood parrots, and small guppies for food. I've had other fish in the tank like kissing fish but my parrot fish seem to be really aggressive and they beat them to death. They are aggressive with all their tank mates and they like to eat the guppies too. When I bought these fish I was told they were passive/shy fish but that has not been my experience at all. I really like them a lot and would never get rid of them, they are fun to watch and a lot of interesting things.My question is should I just have just parrots in this tank or do you know of a breed of fish they are certain to get along with?

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Anonymous - 2011-10-30
Hi we have two blood parrot fish have you tried chillids as they seem to be ok.
We have been told that with parrot fish it's advisable to get similar size fish we have some mollies and tiger barbs and so far everything ok
Alex Burleson - 2011-10-30
Blood Parrot Cichlids, are genetically engineered fish. They are going to have a range of personality wider than most species. From personal experience, I had a male-female pair, they were always passive, yet stood their ground staunchly. Plecostomus' are acceptable tank mates, as well as Dragonfish. However, African Dwarf/Clawed Frogs, which I believe you are referring to, could become greatly picked on by cichlids such as these. Guppies are too small of fish to be housed with Blood Parrot Cichlids. Blood Parrot Cichlids are best housed with Severums, Firemouth Cichlids, Acaras, Snooks, and related South American fishes such as those.
Nick - 2011-11-10
Well I have 3 blood parrots right now with 4 Bala Sharks, 3 Placos, 1 Electric Blue Cichlid, and a Tiger Oscar Cichlid, and 1 Angel Fish...all within a 90 GAL tank...and they all do great together!
Nick - 2011-11-10
One thing you should def. do is keep your PH balances right and your water very clean and as long as they are happy they won't be territorial..
Sharon - 2011-12-31
You are correct about the dwarf albino frogs. We have two and one parrot fish who picks on the frogs by pushing them around. We got a small scull where they can go and get away
kades - 2012-01-02
I have one parrot fish she is very aggressive as well, but has a great personality and is fun to watch. I had trouble finding tank mates as well but I've found that she does well with tiger barbs (doesn't even notice them) and I have a pair of gouramis (green) since pastor fish are slower moving she can't keep up with them and its worked out well. The gouramis bring color to the tank and they aren't shy like some parrots.
David Brough - 2012-01-02
Hey kades, thanks for the info on what else you can put in the tank with your BP.
barry - 2012-02-03
with my parrot fish i had in a large albino oscar. they got on great, slept beside each other and followed each other around the tank. i have since sold my oscar and bought a gold severum and two convicts. gold severum is same size as the parrot and convicts a little smaller. they seem to be getting on great. convicts will square up to the parrot an odd time but no real trouble. but if i was starting over again id go for the oscar and the parrot on their own. you hear on different sites that they cant mix but id say you couldnt find a better match.

jessica - 2011-11-09
Hi! A couple of years ago I had a convict cichlid and a firemouth together in a tank. They ended up having babies... I only have one left that is about 4 inches long and has the distinctions of both cichlids. At first I was told that it was impossible for them to mate, then I was told it's very rare. I was just wondering if it is rare? And if it is...is this fish worth anything?

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Greg Jones - 2012-01-15
Hi Jessica, please don't crossbreed cichlids. Although not rare by any means in the confined space of an aquarium, it's ill advised if you plan on selling or giving these hybrids back to the fish store.
Somewhere down the line, it will be forgotten that they were crossbred and/or they will be resold by the store as a pure breed firemouth or convict. That's simply not fair due to the innate differences in temperament between the 2 fish. Convict cichlids are notoriously aggressive, more so than most other central american cichlids. Whereas Firemouth cichlids are generally more peaceful, even around some community fish.

sarabjit - 2011-09-19
I had 8 kenyi cichlids but I have noticed from past 4 days that they have started getting very much aggressive to each other and killing each other. Now after 4days I'm left with only 3 cichlids as each day 1 or 2 of them dies because of their aggressiveness. Now I have 1 male and 2 female but worried that even they will be together or no. So anyone can suggest me what care should I take.

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gail - 2011-11-17
The male is most aggressive and will kill all, but, the female. You should be fine in the tank and now the male is a happy swimmer with his girls. Good luck.
Anonymous - 2012-01-13
Males will kill other males unless you have 6 to 7 females and males will only be super aggressive during breeding. You need to have lots of other cichlids and other fish in the tank so he does not single any one fish out and then kill him and then kill the next fish and so on you also need lots of rocks and hidding places

Bere - 2012-05-15
I have 2 blood parrots from 3 weeks now and they just hide and do not eat. Somentimes thay lay on the sides and look like they not even breathing and they will not eat also, but when i get close they run to hide again. I don't think that this inactivity is normal. What should i do?

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Jeremy Roche - 2012-05-16
Check you water levels right away. How is your tank movement?
Bere - 2012-05-16
I checked the water at the petstore and is fine. What do you mean by water movement?
steve - 2012-05-18
i have 4 bloods in a 150 & 3 in a55. i went threw the same thing. check your levels but for the most part its adaption. they are a shy breed & easily spooked. mine r doing fine now but that seems like a long time for them not to adapt. they should be foraging & checking the tank by now. good luck bere. get back & let me know how made out. GREAT FISH

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