Reproduction of parrot cichlids. Parrot Cichlid (Cichlid Parrot)
The parrot cichlid is a peaceful small fish with bright colors that doesn't require much care. In nature, it lives in the rivers of Africa. The fish got its name because of the resemblance of its head to the beak of a parrot.
The fish are unpretentious, so even beginner aquarists can keep them. Parrots spawn without problems and produce offspring even in community aquarium.
Parrot cichlid - a funny and active fish
The minimum volume of the aquarium is 100 liters. In such a container you can place 10-12 individuals per adolescence. It is imperative to create a flow using a pump, since native environment fish live in running waters. The optimal habitat temperature is 24-27°C. Water hardness is 8-15°. Every week you need to change half the water. Lighting should be moderate.
In the aquarium you need to create a lot of shelters from stones, driftwood and pots. It is better to pour sand or fine gravel on the bottom. Fish love to dig and rip up the soil, but plants hardly suffer from this. The aquarium should always be covered, as the parrot may jump out of it. The fish is very playful, agile and active, so you can watch its games and fun for a long time.
Parrots are omnivores, so there are no problems with feeding. Fish eat everything:
- bloodworms;
- tubifex;
- Daphnia;
- dry food flakes and granules;
- cucumbers
Cichlids eat on the bottom, so you need to make sure that the food is not intercepted by other fish. The fry should be fed with brine shrimp, bread crumbs and small shrimp. Parents carefully take care of their offspring. After 5 months, the babies acquire the colors and behavior of adults.
Compatibility of parrot cichlids with other fish
Cichlids are often kept in a community aquarium, but there are a few things to keep in mind. During spawning, parrots become very aggressive. Trouble occurs when the aquarium is overcrowded and there is not enough space for the fish. If each individual has enough water and shelter, then conflicts, as a rule, do not arise.
- Sumatran barbs;
- swordtails;
- Congo;
- catfish;
- Aravans;
- mollies.
You should not keep parrots with small shrimps, as cichlids perceive the latter as food. Neighborhood with bottom and veil fish is also not welcome.
The fish quickly get used to the owner, and when he approaches, they begin to swarm around the front wall of the aquarium.
Red parrots were selectively bred in Taiwan at the end of the 20th century. They were obtained by crossing three species of fish of this family - Cichlazoma severum, Cichlazoma labiatum and Cichlazoma pearlescent. Thanks to this “triple” crossing, this fish is also called a three-hybrid parrot.
When you first see a fish, it seems that its mouth is frozen in a smile, for this reason it lifts the spirits of everyone who looks at it. This fish can have many color options from yellow or pink to blood red. It should be said that with age, the color of fish changes pigmentation - they become orange color. In order to preserve the rich red color of the fish longer, they must be fed with food containing beta-carotene. In terms of the structure of their body, they are not much different from their relatives, the main difference is the head resembling the head of a parrot bird, huge eyes and a mouth frozen in a smile. There is a characteristic hump on the back of the fish. The size of adult fish depends on the volume of the aquarium and can vary from 15 to 33 cm.
The red parrot is a peace-loving fish. They spend most of their time in bottom layer water. A formed pair of fish chooses a territory for itself and zealously protects it from other fish. Family ties among fish are very strong; once choosing a female, the male remains with her forever. An aquarium can contain one pair of fish or several, for example three pairs. If you release unformed pairs into the aquarium, you need to monitor the fish and as soon as the pairs are formed, remove the rest of the fish, otherwise they may be killed.
Pisces needs large aquariums volume from 150 liters for one pair of fish.
Coarse gravel can be used as soil. Due to the fact that the fish constantly digs in it, it pulls out all the plants along with the roots, so it is best to use artificial plants as decoration. The aquarium must contain a large number of shelters in the form of flat stones placed on top of each other, grottoes, tree roots or shells from large coconut shaped like a grotto. In order to lure the fish out of their hiding places, it is enough to throw a little food, and they will all immediately be near it.
Water should have the following parameters: temperature 24-28°C, hardness dH 5-20°, acidity pH 6.5-7.5. Filtration and aeration of water, as well as weekly replacement of 1/10 of it, are necessary. The lighting in the aquarium should be bright. Looking ahead, we would like to note that fish do not reproduce in aquarium conditions, but, nevertheless, they retained the instinct to reproduce. At a temperature of about 27-28°C, their parental instinct awakens and they stubbornly begin to build nests, digging impressive holes in the ground. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to maintain the temperature in the aquarium no higher than 25°C.
Fish are actually omnivores. they eat any animal food and plant origin. They especially like bloodworms and granulated cichlid food. You can give pieces of fresh fish. It is necessary to strictly dose the food, as fish are prone to overeating.
By the way, if you decide to get yourself a parrot-bird instead of a parrot fish, then you may have many questions regarding both the choice of a certain type of bird and the conditions for keeping it. It is necessary to familiarize yourself very carefully with all the habits of the future pet, his temperament, ability to talk and only then make his choice. You can buy a parrot, as well as read reviews from their owners, on the website Popugai.ru. Well, if your parrot needs any help, then the site has a forum where you can get comprehensive information on any question you ask.
Reproduction
Red parrots become sexually mature by the age of one and a half years.
Parrot (Cichlasoma sp.)- bright, elegant fish with unusual body shapes.
The maximum size is 20 cm; there are dwarf forms, the maximum length of which does not exceed 10 cm.
After numerous experiments in the early 1990s, Taiwanese breeders managed to obtain offspring from the cross Cichlasoma synspillum x Cichlasoma citrinellum * (female x male), which marked the beginning of an ever-increasing group of hybrids, united under the commercial name Parrot. It is impossible to speak with certainty about the origin of the species, since the method of obtaining these hybrids is kept secret by the creators and is a trade secret, but most likely this hybrid was obtained by triple crossing South American cichlids.
Mostly orange and yellow forms of parrots are imported. You can often buy bright red, purple and crimson fish. This coloring is maintained through specialized “coloring” foods containing large quantities of carotenoids that enhance the red colors. When fed with regular food, the fish regain their orange color.
The green, blue and purple colors of these fish do not last long.
- a very active fish with a playful and funny character, therefore it needs free space for swimming. It is necessary to keep a parrot in large aquariums with a capacity of at least 200 liters. In addition, it is advisable to create a current using a pump, since the ancestors of this species natural conditions live in bodies of water with running water.
The most optimal water temperature for keeping a red parrot is 22-26˚ C with a hardness of 6.5-7.5 pH. The water in the aquarium must be saturated with oxygen, so aeration of the aquarium containing parrot fish is mandatory. In addition, it is necessary to change up to 50% of the water in the aquarium weekly.
It should also be taken into account that a parrot, especially if the aquarium is not large, can jump out of the aquarium, so it is better to cover the aquarium with a lid on top.
The only drawback of this peace-loving fish is considered to be its enormous love for building nests; in order to reduce their desire, the temperature should not be raised above 25 degrees. The parrot's character is quite calm and it easily gets along with many other species of fish, both peaceful and predatory. However, it is worth noting that despite their peaceful disposition, these fish should not be kept in an aquarium with small fish since they can quite easily accidentally swallow a small individual.
The best partners for parrot fish are South American cichlids, catfish, arawans and many other active small fish.
The parrot is not picky about food and eats both live and dry food with great pleasure. However favorite delicacy Parrotfish are floating pellets and bloodworms.
After some time, they recognize their owner and, when approaching, begin to spin around the front wall of the aquarium.
At proper care and content Parrot cichlid ( Cichlid Parrot) Can delight its owners with affection and rather funny behavior for up to 10 years.
Red parrot - American cichlid hybrid
The red parrot or blood red parrot (Blood Parrot) is an amazing aquarium fish, developed in captivity, in wildlife it doesn't exist. She has a round body like balloon and a very small mouth. The fish got their name “parrot” due to the similarity of their nose to the beak of a parrot. Although the exact lineage of the red parrot is not known, it is most likely the result of crossbreeding between Central American and South American cichlids. This is one of the types of “smart” fish that can be tamed.
Red parrots can be solid color or have a “chintz” pattern, with spots. The colors vary, from pale or bright yellow to orange-orange and red. These are shy fish, suitable for both beginners and more experienced aquarists. This species should not be confused with the parrot cichlid (parrothoplarch) - these are freshwater and rather aggressive cichlids South America, are also very attractive, but in appearance they differ very much from red parrots.
Origin
Red parrots - aquarium fish, created by breeders and hobbyists. They are hybrids that live only in home aquariums. Also sometimes light colored varieties of red parrots, or albinos, are colored different ways, for example, by using a dye under the skin, which then disappears within a few months. The fish are painted pink, purple, blue and other colors. They say that artificially colored fish have health problems and die early.
The red parrot's supposed parents are cichlids from Central and South America, and the hybrid was believed to have originated in Taiwan.
Most likely there were several crossings of species, and more than one generation. There are such selection options:
- First option: Citron cichlazoma (Amphilophus citrinellus) and Rainbow cichlazoma (Paraneetroplus synspilus).
- Second option: Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus labiatus) and Cichlid Severum (Cryptoheros spilurus).
There are other assumptions, but they are less likely.
Description
The blood parrot's body is round like a balloon. The mouth is small, the nose looks like a parrot's beak. Sometimes their mouth does not close properly, making feeding difficult. Besides ovoid body makes natural swimming difficult.
There are several color options for red parrots: solid color, with a “chintz” pattern, with spots. Fish come in a variety of colors, from pale, bright yellow to orange and red. There is also a variety of parrots without caudal fin. They grow up to 20 cm in length.
There are also reports of red parrots being crossed with (Texas) cichlids, so there may be other, new varieties.
Otherwise, the red parrot has inherited all the characteristics of cichlids.
The red parrot is a hardy aquarium fish, suitable for beginners, but they are “dirty” fish, be prepared to clean up after them regularly.
For fry and juvenile red parrots in the first two years of life an aquarium will do with a volume of 100-110 liters, but for adults an aquarium with a volume of 170-200 liters is recommended. The aquarium should have efficient system filtration and slow moderate flow. These fish can also litter like goldfish, so choose a filter that is strong enough.
The lighting in the aquarium can be low or medium. The bottom is covered with a thin layer of dark sand, and stones and driftwood are used as decorations, under which the fish can hide. Free place for swimming should also remain. Red parrots love to rummage in the soil, so it must be soft. Live plants can be planted, but parrots will disturb them and dig them up.
Temperature: 21 – 28 ° C;
ph: 6.5-8.0;
Rigidity: 2 – 25 dGH.
Weekly water changes of 20-25% are required. When replacing, you also need to siphon the soil to remove any remaining food (parrots often have food fall out of their mouths) and clean the aquarium glass from algae. With proper regular care, red parrots can live up to 10 years.
Compatibility
The ancestors of red parrots were aggressive fish, so they are not considered a sociable fish, although they are quite peaceful and even shy. Parrots can be kept with other aquarium fish of suitable size. Can be kept with other cichlids, but not too aggressive. Suitable neighbors include angelfish, peaceful catfish, such as plecostomus, corydoras, glass catfish, loaches, tetras, swordtails.
Feeding and feed
Red parrots are omnivores, taking all types of live and dry food in the form of flakes. Typically, fish are fed dry food daily. High Quality in the form of flakes and tablets. Additionally, they are fed with live or frozen brine shrimp, bloodworms, and small fish, such as guppies. Feeds containing carotene will contribute to better coloring of parrots.
Differences between a male and a female
It is difficult to distinguish a male from a female. Males have pink coloration around the gills and throat during spawning.
Reproduction
IN home aquarium It is almost impossible to get offspring from red parrots, since their eggs are sterile. To obtain viable offspring, they need to mate only with non-hybrid cichlids.
Red Parrot or Parrotfish ( Red Parrot Cichlid) is an aquarium fish of the cichlid or cichlid family (Cichlidae).
The red parrot is a hybrid of an aquarium fish, artificially created by man. After numerous experiments, by the beginning of 1991, Taiwanese breeders were able to obtain offspring from the crossing of Cichlasoma synspillum and Cichlasoma citrinellum, which marked the beginning of an ever-increasing group of hybrids, united under the commercial name of parrotfish. It is impossible to speak with certainty about the origin of the species, since the method for obtaining these hybrids is carefully protected by their creators and is a trade secret, but most likely this hybrid was obtained by triple crossing South American cichlids.
Breeders from South-East Asia are trying to maintain a monopoly on this type of aquarium fish, since these cute freaks have already managed to win the hearts of many aquarium lovers in all corners globe. Although parrotfish were created favorable conditions ready to reproduce and lay eggs, none yet for an experienced aquarist from other countries it was not possible to obtain offspring from these cute creatures. Thanks to its amazing and bright colors, the red parrot is in overwhelming demand, which brings considerable income to its creators who breed this type only in their own country and are supplied to pet stores around the world. To the territory of Russia and former countries Parrot fish began to be supplied to the CIS in the 90s of the twentieth century and immediately won the hearts of aquarium lovers.
Appearance and gender differences
The red parrot is one of the most popular peace-loving cichlids. This type of hybrid does not have a Latin name - there is only its commercial name Parrot (parrot). Yours unusual name they received it, apparently, due to the shape of the head, somewhat reminiscent of the beak of a parrot, and the surprisingly bright and varied colors of the body. It is worth noting that, despite the apparent attractiveness appearance, the parrotfish has a number of anatomical abnormalities that can sometimes be fatal to some individuals. In addition to infertility, such deviations include an unusual mouth, which the fish can open vertically only at a small angle. Therefore, feeding a red parrot is very difficult and, sometimes, such a deviation can lead to starvation of an individual. In addition, it is worth noting that the bright, varied colors of this species are also artificial, as supplier companies honestly admit. However, monopolistic firms prefer to keep silent about how the body of a parrot fish is colored, keeping a trade secret. Many enthusiasts from Western countries, guided by humane treatment to keeping and breeding pets, require a complete ban on the breeding and sale of this species.
The red parrot is an extremely unpretentious and funny aquarium fish that grows up to 10-15 cm in an aquarium. Anyone, even a novice aquarist, can easily keep these cute pets in their aquarium. Like all hybrids, the parrotfish has huge stock vitality, extraordinary endurance and powerful health. The red parrot is a real decoration of the aquarium, since these touching creatures have an unusually bright, varied color: red, blue, purple, cream, yellow, orange, green, etc. Sometimes you can find “ wild color", which is similar to the coloration of some cancers and cichlases. It should be noted that over the course of life, the color gradually fades and to improve the color, the parrot fish should be fed with specialized food. For example, food enriched with carotene improves the red coloration of the red parrot's body.
The red parrot is a very active fish with a playful and funny character, so it needs the free space it needs to swim. Parrot fish must be kept in large aquariums with a capacity of at least 200 liters. In addition, it is advisable to create a current using a pump, since the ancestors of this species naturally live in reservoirs with running water. Most optimal temperature water for keeping a red parrot is 22-26°C with a hardness of 6.5-7.5 pH. The water in the aquarium must be saturated with oxygen, so aeration of the aquarium containing the parrot fish is mandatory. In addition, it is necessary to change up to 50% of the water in the aquarium weekly. It should also be taken into account that a red parrot, especially if the aquarium is small, can jump out of the aquarium, so it is better to cover the aquarium with a lid on top. The red parrot has no particular passion for aquarium plants, so you don’t have to worry too much about the design of the aquarium. The only drawback of this peace-loving fish is considered to be its enormous love for large-scale construction of nests. The character of the red parrot is simply wonderful and it easily gets along with many other species of fish, both peaceful and predatory. However, it is worth noting that despite their peaceful disposition, these fish should not be kept in an aquarium with small fish (gracilis, young neons), since they can quite easily, despite their small mouths, accidentally swallow a small individual. The best partners for parrotfish are arowanas, black knives, labeos, medium and small sizes South American cichlids, large and medium-sized catfish, large barbs and characin fish. The red parrot is not picky about food and eats both live and dry food with great pleasure. However, the parrotfish's favorite treats are floating pellets and bloodworms. After some time, they recognize their benefactor-owner and, flirting with him, begin to spin around the front wall of the aquarium. With proper care and maintenance, a red parrot can delight its owners with affection and rather funny behavior for up to 10 years (that’s how long parrotfish live).
Breeding
Although male parrotfish are sterile and are not capable of reproduction, as soon as the water temperature is slightly raised above 25 ° C, the instinct to reproduce immediately awakens in the fish and intensive nest building begins. At the same time, the red parrot is capable of digging quite large holes in the ground and significantly changing the topography at the bottom of the aquarium. IN mating season parrot fish can watch with interest the ups and downs family life this fish. Sometimes females even lay eggs, however, males cannot fertilize them, and they remain unviable. According to monopolistic companies that breed and supply red parrots, the fry of these fish are gray-black, but by about 5 months they acquire a bright orange-red color.