Blood Parrot Cichlid

Author : Efrain Silva

Appearance

The Blood Parrot Cichlid is red like blood, and I’m sure you guessed it before I wrote it. Many have claimed it is a uniquely created hybrid sort of fish (guesses being that the Redhead Cichlid and the Midas were its original parents). This fish also comes in a gray form, as well as a yellow one. Additional colors are optional but through breeders, who inject such colors into these fish to change their appearance. Call it artificial coloring (not the healthiest option for the fish, though ; its healthiest option is always proven to be its natural, God - given colors).

Diet

It can eat like a small monster, if it truly builds up enough hunger (and you do not want to let things escalate to that end, in any case, as gradual daily / bi - daily feedings are always best for your fishes). This omnivorous buddy can eat like a fat kid at a buffet….nothing spared. And I know : I’ve been working on getting my 7 - year - old to lose weight, and have been thankfully seeing some progress.

Anywho, the Blood Parrot Cichlid can suck on both meats and veggies (but preferably not at the same time, heh heh). Flakes work. Pellets are even better.

Origins

It’s been concluded that this fish was most likely bred way out in Taiwan, and back in the 1980’s, originally. Experts have posed a date of around 1986, respectively, and all their research has been sound, proven with solid methods of analysis and statistical data altogether. This fish, uniquely, lacks a binary nomenclature. Some just call it the Parrot Cichlid, the Blood Parrot Cichlid, or the Blood - Red Parrot Cichlid. Any name you want to give it is fine — I assume it will not mind (so long as you don’t name it “Bob”, the most overused American name of all time).

Roommate Situation

Find it some good, cozy housing, along with the best other fish it will ever know, and you’ve set it up for success — you want your fishie to succeed on all accounts, right? And there’s nothing “fishy” about feeling that way. I know I want the best for my own fish, too…..

This fish, however, has been known to be ‘bi - polar’, or, let’s say, for argument’s sake, unpredictable. It has its own ups & downs and can get stressed out. (Over what? I do not know….) You will have to closely experiment to see what works best, in each individual case, though some good choices for tank partners have been the Firemouth Cichlids, Angelfish, and various Tetras.

Other Facts to Note

Get your tank temperature right within 76 F to 80 F for the Blood Parrot Cichlid to feel right at home. If the temperature drops too much lower than within this range, a few negative things can occur. One would be that — believe it or not — the fish would begin to lose some of its natural color. Its immune system can also begin to suffer and weaken.