Blood parrot
Hybrid cichlid, no scientific name · Cichlidae
Also known as Blood parrot cichlid, Red parrot, Parrot fish
Intermediate
Man-made cichlid hybrid whose mouth cannot fully close; usually calm, but it needs a large tank and can be bullied by aggressive fish.
In short: A blood parrot needs at least 230 L (61 US gal), water at 24–26 °C (75–79 °F) and pH 6.5–7.4. It is peaceful, usually kept singly, and rated intermediate to keep.
Updated
- Minimum tank
- 230 L (61 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.4
- Adult size
- 20 cm (7.9 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 230 L (61 US gal)
- Temperature
- 24–26 °C (75–79 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–7.4
- Hardness
- 6–18 dGH
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Diet
- Omnivore: small sinking pellets and frozen foods it can grip with its narrow mouth.
- Care level
- Intermediate
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Man-made hybrid first bred in Taiwan in the 1980s
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Biotope
- Aquarium-bred only
- Natural conditions
- Its likely parents live in warm, soft to neutral water.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- Mid-water
- Good tank mates
- Other blood parrotsMedium-sized peaceful cichlidsPlecos
- Avoid
- Small fish it can eatShrimp and snailsAggressive cichlids
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males are slightly larger; otherwise hard to tell apart.
- Notes
- Pairs lay and guard eggs, but males are usually infertile, so the eggs rarely hatch.
- Common ailments
- IchFeeding problems from the fixed mouthStress from bullying
Will it fit your tank?
Sign in and AquaLog compares Blood parrot against every tank you track — volume, water type, temperature and pH — then adds it to your livestock in one tap.
Sign in to check my tanks
