John - 2011-04-12 I recently purchused 16 of these strange fish. I thought they would shoal but they get into small groups and swim all around the 900 gal built in aquarium. I spent about $35 on them but it was fully worth it . They are kept with 8 silver dollars , a 13 inche silver arowana , 2 small red tailed catfish ( about 4 inches ) , one 5 inche shovel nose catfish , 4 large walking catfish , one African spiny eel , 5 Ceylon snakeheads ( Ceylon is the Old name for Sri Lanka ) and one 6 inche giant snakehead . There is no law against keeping snakeheads in Sri lanka. They all get along well so far. I've had them for two months already.
lauren - 2011-03-12 Blood parrots DO lay eggs, they just are not fertile, because they are hybrid fish and do not mate. I've had parrots for six years, they're the best fish & I could never get rid of mine. Just for a heads up, your colored fish [[blue, purple, etc]] will all lose their color & they will turn the color that they are supposed to be. Orange. Two of mine were dyed, and have lost it since they've gotten older, so if you're spending more for a dyed fish, your wasting your money, no matter how cool they look!
Janice - 2003-08-17 I bought my very first Blood Parrot on 8/16/03 and although I have only had him/her for 1 day, I can safely say that I love my fish. This is the most entertaining fish I have in my whole tank. He loves to swim on his side and take nose dives at the bubble strip at the back of the tank and also nose dives at the gravel. He will stop and look at his own reflection for minutes at the time and then try to what looks like kiss himself. He is so funny. I have named him Sebastian after the orangy/red crab in the Little Mermaid.
Man made/bred fish or not, I love him and hope to have this little fella around for a long time.
Janice
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Deborah Harper - 2010-08-27 i first saw this fish at my doctors office and fell in love with it so i went out and got me two, but i have a problem right now and i really would like some help, i just got a new one, even though i quess i had not paid much attention on how "bosses" henry gets to isabella, their names,it has only been one day but henry has been so bossey to buddy that buddy is not coming out from the corner, i changed the things around in the tank but that has not helped will buddy be ok? i am getting a bigger tank and i hope that will help.
Deborah Harper - 2010-09-13 I am still trying to find out about the parrot fish and I haven't found out anything about why they push one another around other then being bossy but sometimes they even get mouth to mouth to each other, my little one, her name is isablea, tries to ignore the bossy one but it is hard for her, what can you do to get harmony in the tank?
Timeka - 2010-10-11 I just purchased 2 purple parrots and I'm a little concerned with the fish. They don't swim much at all. If I didn't know for a fact that I put them in the tank they could almost pass for decoration in the tank. It's not a bad thing. I just want to know if this is normal behavior and if not... what should I try to get them well if they're ill? I really love these fish.
Rosie - 2011-03-13 I have two Blood Parrots that are three years old. One always had a dark orange spot on his tail. Recently, this spot has darkened to brown and is now swollen to a bump. It does not seem to bother him or impair his swimming. What could it be and does it need to be treated? Thanks.
nadeem khan - 2011-02-21 Can a pair of parrot fish be kept be a pair of angel fish in the same tank? Need your kind advice ASAP.
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Editor's Note - 2011-02-22 In general, they can be kept with other cichlids of similar size like angelfish. However, as with most fish in general and cichlids in particular, keep an eye out for aggressive behavior from either the parrot fish or the angelfish.
daniel - 2011-02-28 I have had 3 large angels in the same tank as 2 parrots + mountain minnows, silver tip tetras, corys, blue gouramies, and plecs. All the fish seem to get on fine and have done for 2yrs now. But they are in a 4ft tank.
BJ Lukken - 2006-10-09 I have six, rapidly growing Parrots in my 55 gal. tank. Two orange, one pink 'Candy' Parrot, one red 'Heart' Parrot (really is shaped like a Valentine) and two fellows that started out green with black that have "morphed" into peach-colored with touches of black.! Very interested in seeing what they will eventually look like! So far, no pairing noted..which is fine with me as I have 7 fancy veil-type juvenile Angels in another tank that I'm hoping will pair up and spawn. THANKS for this site..There is so much to learn about these fish..and so little information out there!
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FRANK - 2010-02-28 So i just bout 2 small parrots. They are dark with bars. Is this how they all start out when young?
Random Peep - 2011-02-21 @ Frank, yes they change a good bit while growing, but when they're done, they'll most likely be a nice orange color :)
Amy - 2011-01-08 I just bought 2... a orange and a red... I did not know they needed 2 be in such a big tank... I have just the 2 of them in a 3 gallon tank will they be alright in there?
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Elizabeth - 2011-01-23 I think that they might need a much bigger tank, because they get to be pretty big.
trint - 2011-01-26 No you need at least a 30 gallon.
Random Peep - 2011-02-21 NO! That's terrible! These fish have to be in *at least 42-50 Gallons maybe more, they will become very upset and will likely form diseases, so please if possible get a larger tank.
aqua - 2010-09-26 I have a 55 gallon tank and its been pretty well stocked with goldfish the last few years. Recently I added a blood parrot, a tetra, and a molly as well as a cory catfish, a pleco and 2 loaches. There is also a guppy female in there. I have had no problem with aggression from the parrot or anything. The only really aggressive fish in there is my guppy, she only gets along with goldfish and what's in there now. She tried killing my betta and other guppies in the other tank. So as far as parrots go I like mine, he's fun to watch swimming around and interacting with the others. He has a little plant and cave in the middle of the tank he hides in but he seems to like swimming about with everyone else.
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Heather - 2011-01-08 Are your goldfish around the same size as your parrot?
katie - 2011-01-23 I also have added a blood parrot to my tank, I have an Oscar, a pleco, and a silver looking fish. They all get along very well, I have them in a 55 gallon tank. The blood parrot fish is the smallest of them all and has no problems. I do enjoy watching him, he brings color and caricature to the tank.
Carl - 2011-02-13 We have a 90gal tank with 2 Parrots who are both about 6 -7 inches long , 3 black neon tetras,3 hatchet tetras,3 tetras I can't recall the names of, 2 clown loaches,1-10 inch Pleco, 2 of the bubbly headed goldfish, (forget their names at the moment ) and we have had several other Parrots over about 5 years and have yet to see even one be aggressive and as you say with the shape of the mouth they couldn't eat them anyway. Every pet store we visit tells us that parrots will kill and eat all the smaller fish.
jitra - 2011-02-18 You are lucky, my biggest parrot is so aggressive. He attacks my comets, malawi cichlid [supposed to die from the kiss], trees, stone on the floor, even my hand [when clean the tank] but I like him most in my 4 parrots, I understand his moody &defensive of territory nature.
The Blood Parrot is just about the most curious result of cichlids interbreeding, and has created quite a stir in the aquarium hobby!
I recently purchused 16 of these strange fish. I thought they would shoal but they get into small groups and swim all around the 900 gal built in aquarium. I spent about $35 on them but it was fully worth it . They are kept with 8 silver dollars , a 13 inche silver arowana , 2 small red tailed catfish ( about 4 inches ) , one 5 inche shovel nose catfish , 4 large walking catfish , one African spiny eel , 5 Ceylon snakeheads ( Ceylon is the Old name for Sri Lanka ) and one 6 inche giant snakehead . There is no law against keeping snakeheads in Sri lanka. They all get along well so far. I've had them for two months already.
Hi - I am really delighted to discover this. Great job!
Hello all,
Im new here im just posting to say
How is everyone?
Blood parrots DO lay eggs, they just are not fertile, because they are hybrid fish and do not mate. I've had parrots for six years, they're the best fish & I could never get rid of mine. Just for a heads up, your colored fish [[blue, purple, etc]] will all lose their color & they will turn the color that they are supposed to be. Orange. Two of mine were dyed, and have lost it since they've gotten older, so if you're spending more for a dyed fish, your wasting your money, no matter how cool they look!
I bought my very first Blood Parrot on 8/16/03 and although I have only had him/her for 1 day, I can safely say that I love my fish. This is the most entertaining fish I have in my whole tank. He loves to swim on his side and take nose dives at the bubble strip at the back of the tank and also nose dives at the gravel. He will stop and look at his own reflection for minutes at the time and then try to what looks like kiss himself. He is so funny. I have named him Sebastian after the orangy/red crab in the Little Mermaid.
Man made/bred fish or not, I love him and hope to have this little fella around for a long time.
Janice
i first saw this fish at my doctors office and fell in love with it so i went out and got me two, but i have a problem right now and i really would like some help, i just got a new one, even though i quess i had not paid much attention on how "bosses" henry gets to isabella, their names,it has only been one day but henry has been so bossey to buddy that buddy is not coming out from the corner, i changed the things around in the tank but that has not helped will buddy be ok? i am getting a bigger tank and i hope that will help.
I am still trying to find out about the parrot fish and I haven't found out anything about why they push one another around other then being bossy but sometimes they even get mouth to mouth to each other, my little one, her name is isablea, tries to ignore the bossy one but it is hard for her, what can you do to get harmony in the tank?
I just purchased 2 purple parrots and I'm a little concerned with the fish. They don't swim much at all. If I didn't know for a fact that I put them in the tank they could almost pass for decoration in the tank. It's not a bad thing. I just want to know if this is normal behavior and if not... what should I try to get them well if they're ill? I really love these fish.
I have two Blood Parrots that are three years old. One always had a dark orange spot on his tail. Recently, this spot has darkened to brown and is now swollen to a bump. It does not seem to bother him or impair his swimming. What could it be and does it need to be treated? Thanks.
Can a pair of parrot fish be kept be a pair of angel fish in the same tank? Need your kind advice ASAP.
In general, they can be kept with other cichlids of similar size like angelfish. However, as with most fish in general and cichlids in particular, keep an eye out for aggressive behavior from either the parrot fish or the angelfish.
I have had 3 large angels in the same tank as 2 parrots + mountain minnows, silver tip tetras, corys, blue gouramies, and plecs. All the fish seem to get on fine and have done for 2yrs now. But they are in a 4ft tank.
I have six, rapidly growing Parrots in my 55 gal. tank.
Two orange, one pink 'Candy' Parrot, one red 'Heart' Parrot (really is shaped like a Valentine) and two fellows that started out green with black that have "morphed" into peach-colored with touches of black.!
Very interested in seeing what they will eventually look like!
So far, no pairing noted..which is fine with me as I have 7 fancy veil-type juvenile Angels in another tank that I'm hoping will pair up and spawn.
THANKS for this site..There is so much to learn about these fish..and so little information out there!
So i just bout 2 small parrots. They are dark with bars. Is this how they all start out when young?
@ Frank, yes they change a good bit while growing, but when they're done, they'll most likely be a nice orange color :)
I just bought 2... a orange and a red... I did not know they needed 2 be in such a big tank... I have just the 2 of them in a 3 gallon tank will they be alright in there?
I think that they might need a much bigger tank, because they get to be pretty big.
No you need at least a 30 gallon.
NO! That's terrible! These fish have to be in *at least 42-50 Gallons maybe more, they will become very upset and will likely form diseases, so please if possible get a larger tank.
I have a 55 gallon tank and its been pretty well stocked with goldfish the last few years. Recently I added a blood parrot, a tetra, and a molly as well as a cory catfish, a pleco and 2 loaches. There is also a guppy female in there. I have had no problem with aggression from the parrot or anything. The only really aggressive fish in there is my guppy, she only gets along with goldfish and what's in there now. She tried killing my betta and other guppies in the other tank. So as far as parrots go I like mine, he's fun to watch swimming around and interacting with the others. He has a little plant and cave in the middle of the tank he hides in but he seems to like swimming about with everyone else.
Are your goldfish around the same size as your parrot?
I also have added a blood parrot to my tank, I have an Oscar, a pleco, and a silver looking fish. They all get along very well, I have them in a 55 gallon tank. The blood parrot fish is the smallest of them all and has no problems. I do enjoy watching him, he brings color and caricature to the tank.
We have a 90gal tank with 2 Parrots who are both about 6 -7 inches long , 3 black neon tetras,3 hatchet tetras,3 tetras I can't recall the names of, 2 clown loaches,1-10 inch Pleco, 2 of the bubbly headed goldfish, (forget their names at the moment ) and we have had several other Parrots over about 5 years and have yet to see even one be aggressive and as you say with the shape of the mouth they couldn't eat them anyway.
Every pet store we visit tells us that parrots will kill and eat all the smaller fish.
You are lucky, my biggest parrot is so aggressive. He attacks my comets, malawi cichlid [supposed to die from the kiss], trees, stone on the floor, even my hand [when clean the tank] but I like him most in my 4 parrots, I understand his moody &defensive of territory nature.