CATDOLL : CATDOLL: Can I keep a red parrot in a small fish tank?

Can I keep a red parrot in a small fish tank?

You can keep red parrots in a small fish tank, but make sure there is enough space.

In terms of food, red parrot fish mainly eat feed containing pigments to ensure bright colors. There are special feeds for red parrot fish, and you can also feed red parrot fish with some shrimps. Because shrimps contain astaxanthin, which can make the fish body bright in color.

Be sure to pay attention to the water temperature, it is best to keep it around 28 degrees. If the water temperature changes greatly, it will threaten the color of the fish and the life of the fish.

In terms of light, red parrot fish are particularly sensitive to light. They need to be exposed to light regularly and in a fixed amount. They cannot be exposed to light for a long time, and it is best to keep them in dim light. If the fish tank is placed in a room that is not on the sunny side, add two hours of light every day, and keep it dim the rest of the time. If it is on the sunny side, keep it in the sun for 2 hours, and keep it dim the rest of the time.

Additional information:

Note:

In order to keep the blood parrot's bright color, feeding is also very important. In the market where ornamental fish are sold, there are special feeds for blood parrots. These special feeds have red-enhancing ingredients added. Just feed them directly to keep the blood parrot's body color in a bright red state.

Blood parrots are active and like to play, so they need a relatively spacious living space. Therefore, the number of blood parrots in the fish tank should not be too large. For example, if the fish is larger, about 10 pairs can be raised, and if it is smaller, a few more pairs can be raised appropriately.

To keep blood parrots well, you must maintain good water quality to avoid bacteria breeding in the water and affecting the health of the fish. Therefore, you should clean the feces in the fish tank regularly, every 3 to 4 days, and change the water for the fish in time to prevent the water from being turbid.

Reference source: Baidu Encyclopedia - Red Parrot Fish

Reference source: Baidu Encyclopedia - Fish Tank

Reference source: Baidu Encyclopedia - Water temperature

You can keep red parrots in a small fish tank, but make sure there is enough space.

How to raise a red parrot:

1. The reason why the parrot fish is not red is mainly related to feeding. Unstable water quality and non-nutritious feed may cause the parrot fish to not grow red. If you want the blood parrot to become bright red, you must first maintain a superior water quality environment. Make sure that the water quality conditions meet the living needs of the blood parrot, and keep the water quality stable. The water temperature cannot be high for a while and then low for a while. At the same time, make sure that there is enough dissolved oxygen in the water to meet the growth needs of the parrot fish.

2. To make the parrot fish grow red, you must also maintain the water quality and environment hygiene, and regularly clean the stains in the fish tank, such as fish feces, food residues, etc., to ensure that the water quality is clean. In addition, in order for the blood parrot fish to grow red, it must maintain good physical health and a good mental state.

3. In addition to a superior water environment, diet is also crucial for the healthy growth of blood parrots. You can prepare some fish feed at ordinary times, and of course you can occasionally feed blood parrots with fresh fish bait, such as mealworms, bloodworms, etc. (Note that fresh fish bait must be disinfected and sterilized before feeding parrots). These fresh fish baits are rich in protein and other nutrients, which are the best for the growth of blood parrots. To grow bright red like a blood parrot, it is important to ensure that the food is nutritious and balanced.

The red parrot will grow up, and when it grows up, the fish tank will seem small. Either change to a larger fish tank, or raise a few small fish.

It's okay to raise small ones, but not if they are too big. They also need space.

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Is it easy to raise parrot fish? What are the precautions?

Easier to raise

Parrot fish are relatively easy to keep because they are hardy and do not have high requirements for water temperature and water quality. As long as the water temperature is controlled between 25-30 degrees, it is easy to keep them alive. Although parrot fish do not have high requirements for water temperature, large temperature differences can easily cause them to fade or become sick, so breeders should pay attention to keeping the water temperature constant. In addition, parrot fish also have a high demand for oxygen, so it is best to keep the oxygen pump in the fish tank open for a long time.

Parrot fish are easy to keep, and they do not have high requirements for living environment and food. Generally, as long as there is stable water quality and water temperature, sufficient food and oxygen, they can survive.

Things to note when raising parrot fish

1. First of all, you should pay attention to the water temperature and water quality. Parrot fish do not have high requirements for water temperature, as long as it is controlled at 25-30 degrees. But pay attention to the temperature difference. If the temperature difference exceeds 2 degrees, the parrot fish will fade or become sick. Parrot fish do not have high requirements for water quality either, as long as it is slightly acidic and clear water, just pay attention to the water quality not becoming turbid.

2. The second thing is feeding. Parrot fish are greedy and have a mixed diet. The breeder should pay attention to the amount and time of feeding. It is best to feed them regularly and quantitatively every day. Reasonably match the food to ensure adequate nutrition.

3. The next thing is oxygen. Parrot fish need a lot of oxygen, so there must be no lack of oxygen in the process of raising parrot fish. You can install an oxygen pump in the fish tank, preferably 24 hours a day. You can also be more environmentally friendly and install a timer, which will start for 10 minutes and stop for 10 minutes.

4. The last thing is the stocking density. Because parrot fish have a particularly high demand for oxygen, breeders must control the density of the fish tank to avoid parrot fish lack of oxygen. It is best to have a slightly smaller density to give parrot fish more space to move around.

Living habits

Parrot fish live in mixed reef and sand areas, mainly in tropical and subtropical oceans at a depth of 30-50 cm. Young fish imitate algae debris drifting with the water flow, hide in the sand when frightened, and sleep in the sand at night. They are carnivorous and feed on small benthic animals. They have a row of teeth in their mouths, which can not only bite off the rough algae, but also the thorny sea urchins. Parrot fish can also bite hard corals and even eat poisonous food.

Aquarium, filter, oxygen pump, thermometer, heater, dechlorinator, lighting equipment, and a bottle of nitrifying bacteria and coarse salt.

When raising parrot fish, you should pay attention to the following points:

1. Temperature: Parrot fish have relatively low requirements for water temperature, and the fish body has a strong ability to adapt to temperature. People often think that parrot fish can withstand low temperatures, so they keep the water temperature low. In fact, blood parrot fish are quite "sensitive" to temperature. They are relatively easy to raise among tropical fish, but easy to raise is relative. It is easy to keep them healthy and not die, but it is difficult to raise them well.

In low water temperature or when the water temperature fluctuates dramatically, parrot fish are prone to lose their bright color or even fade due to physiological reactions, and even worse, black stripes or spots will appear. Maintaining the water temperature at around 28 degrees can make the fish appear bright and full of vitality. Parrot fish that live in low water temperature for a long time will have fading problems, and are prone to illness and death.

2. Frequency of water changes: In my experience, the color of the parrot will become lighter within the first 2-3 hours of changing the water, but it will soon return to red. Similarly, if new water is not added for more than 4 days, the parrot will lose color. Therefore, generally change the water every three days, and change a quarter of the water each time. Keeping the water fresh can ensure that the parrot does not fade.

3. Feed:

A/ This fish must not be fed with small river fish. Perhaps the color of the small river fish stimulates their genes of atavism. As long as they are fed with small river fish, the color of the parrot will definitely become lighter. Blood red parrots will be full after feeding with small fish, because this fish is greedy and does not know whether they are hungry or full. Small river fish are not good for the gills. The gills of parrots are very fragile, and small river fish can easily bring in germs. I once raised parrots and large fish together. They also fought for small fish to eat, but every time they ate small fish, something went wrong. You can't feed loaches. All fish can't stand it. It's hard to digest, and there is a greater possibility of contamination. I have done several experiments, and even fish like paparazzi can't stand loaches.

B/ Use red-enhancing feed. "Astaxanthin" can promote the blood parrot's body color. If you can fully ingest astaxanthin, the blood parrot's body color will be bright red in the near future. In the special feed for blood parrots, astaxanthin and "β-carotene" are added to the feed, which can keep the blood parrot's body color bright red. Gradually adding particles (which can enhance color) to the feed will make the blood parrot's color better.

C/ Fish that are used to eating live bait will not like to eat pellets. Some fish lovers may have fed parrots live worms since they bought them, so parrots will not eat pellets when they are fed pellets. You can take a step-by-step approach: before feeding live worms, first give a little pellets (which can add color), let the fish get used to it, and then feed the live worms that you have been feeding before. After the fish get used to it, gradually increase the amount of pellets and reduce the amount of live worms, and finally adjust to pellet feed. In addition, you should change the brand of feed frequently, and you cannot feed only one type.

D/ It is good for some people to feed live shrimps and brine shrimps, which can add color, but the cost is higher. However, you should also pay attention to disinfection and cut off the hard thorns on the heads of live shrimps to avoid hurting the parrots.

4. Pay attention to light: Parrots are sensitive to light. They need to be exposed to strong light at regular intervals and in fixed quantities. Maintain 1-2 hours of strong light exposure every day, and then let them spend the rest of the day in a darker environment. The room is brighter, and there is enough light without lights. But if the light remains the same for a long time, the color of the parrot will fade. That is: give regular and fixed light exposure instead of relying solely on natural light. Remember: the lighting time should not be too long, and the environment of the fish tank should be kept relatively dim after turning off the lights. In this way, once there is light again, you will find that the parrot is much redder than before. If the fish tank is in a room that is not facing the sun, add two hours of light every day, and then turn off the lights. If the room is well lit, after the light is irradiated, properly block the light in the room to keep the fish tank in a dim state. I have tried this method many times, so please try it.

5. Light color: Some fish tanks have white lights, which can be replaced with red light tubes. Replacing with red light tubes can fully show the red color of the fish. Ordinary fluorescent lights will make the color of the fish look bluish.

6. Environment: You may have noticed that the fish will fade a little in the first few days after they arrive in your tank. That is because they are not used to it. As their ability to adapt increases, they will gradually get better. Therefore, don't let them get scared, which is another rule of thumb for solving the fading problem.

In addition, if the color of a parrot becomes lighter for more than three months, it will basically never return to its original color.

Another problem with parrots is that they always gather in one corner of the tank. When people come over, they run around. This is because they have not yet adapted to the new environment. Parrots are naturally timid and like to gather in groups. Sometimes they lose their scales. One reason is that the fish is sick, but it is also likely that this fish is timid and likes to run around. Therefore, there are 5 points to pay attention to when raising them:

1/ You can turn on the light before feeding, and wait for five minutes until all the fish have adapted and become more courageous before feeding. Over time, a conditioned reflex will be formed, and the parrot will come over by itself when the light is turned on.

2/ Feed once a day to form a regular pattern. Before each feeding, the fish feel hungry and have to come out to find food. Some people may say that if fish are not fed frequently, will it affect their growth rate? First of all, it is not a problem to be a little hungry, but eating too much will make them more susceptible to illness. Imagine that in nature, fish have to look for food all day long, and it is often the law of the jungle, so it is natural for small and medium-sized fish to eat less. In addition, the purpose of raising ornamental fish in a fish tank is to enjoy them, not to raise them and then sell them, so the fish are often a little hungry, which is an element to keep them in a healthy state.

3/Don't be frightened. When approaching the fish tank, go slowly. The fish will run away when they see a human figure in the tank, so don't let your shadow shake the fish tank when you approach it. When feeding, stay in front of the tank for a while, and when its state is stable, gently tap the tank. After training for a period of time, it will be fine.

4/ If you raise parrots with large fish, you can prepare some pellet feed (dry shrimp is better) and put it together with other baits. The pellet feed is relatively small, and the big fish can't finish it in a short time, so the parrot can grab it. In addition, the pellet feed has the effect of enhancing color, so it can prevent the parrot from fading.

5/ Mix some brave fish that are not afraid of people, such as map fish, etc. Under the influence of other fish, they will run out to grab food or even chase other fish.

Importance of water changes:

During the breeding process, I also found that the parrots were very active and their colors were brighter after changing the water. The ancestors of the blood parrots grew in South America, so the water quality conditions they need are the same as those of the general cichlids in Central and South America, which require weak acidity and low hardness. The fragility of the gills is an innate defect of this fish. Poor water quality will first injure the gills and directly affect the life of the blood parrots. Therefore, blood parrots need better water quality and sufficient oxygen than other fish. In particular, the water quality cannot be too old, so regular and quantitative water changes are also the key to raising parrots well. My experience is to change the water every three days, and do not change more than a quarter of the water in the tank at a time. Before changing the water, wipe the tank first, filter it for a few hours, and wait until the water is clear before changing the water. Parrots prefer new water, and the new water here is well-watered water. Some feeds can make the water red or yellow. Frequent water changes can also solve the color problem of the water produced by the feed. At the same time, a high-efficiency filtration system should be prepared to fully circulate the water to avoid the growth of bacteria and cause gill diseases.

Will parrots hatch?

Parrots lay eggs, but they won't hatch. Some breeders have talked about this issue. Parrots are the result of a cross between two species of fish. Just like the offspring of a donkey and a horse, a mule is infertile. Parrot fish and mules are not exactly the same. The male of this fish is infertile, but the female fish often lays eggs. However, even if the female fish lays eggs, they cannot hatch. This is because the male fish cannot fertilize the eggs. Some people really hope that parrot eggs can hatch after they lay eggs. In fact, it is not difficult to do. If you are interested, you can try to add a few birthday stars, red devils, purple-red firemouths, etc. Maybe you can breed, that is, prepare red devils, birthday stars, purple-red firemouths, etc. for the female fish, so that you can breed. Red devils and other male fish should be able to breed small fish with parrot female fish. A few female parrots can also cross with arowanas to hatch short-bodied arowanas, but not all female parrots can do this. If you are interested and have patience, you can try it.

Mixed breeding of blood parrots:

This fish can be mixed with many kinds of fish, such as pineapple, firemouth, warship, dragon fish, map and other medium and large fish of the Central and South American Cichlid family. They can have diverse body color combinations and can coexist peacefully, but there are a few points to pay attention to when choosing:

1. Blood parrots and arowana should be raised together from a young age. Once they grow up, it is difficult to mix them together. They are both fish with a strong sense of territory. When raising them from a young age, the blood parrot should be larger than the arowana so that they will not fight. If the arowana is larger, the arowana will not tolerate the parrot.

2. Parrots cannot be kept together with small fish such as peacocks and colorful phoenixes. Parrots are medium-to-large fish and will eat peacocks and other fish when they grow up. In addition, large and small fish are fed different foods, which can easily cause water quality deterioration.

3. Parrot fish and silver shark, white pomfret, red-tailed black shark and other fast-swimming fish are not good to be raised together. From the perspective of matching, I don't like it very much. One swims very fast and the other is relatively slow, so it is a bit mismatched. The body shapes of the two cannot be too different. If the colorful phoenix is ​​still a juvenile, it cannot be raised together, because the parrot will eat them.

It is easy to raise, basically does not get sick, eats everything, is resistant to dirty water, and can handle water temperatures between 20-30 degrees.

Pay attention to the water quality, it is best to buy antibacterial medicine