Red parrot in your aquarium

In general, under the name of fish-parrots, different types of fish can hide. Tropical Parrot Fish are found mainly in coral reefs and can reach 1-2 meters in length. These fish belong to the family of parakeet fish parasites.

And aquarium fish-parrots have to tropicalgiants very distant relationship. They also belong to the detachment of the perciform, but their family is called cichlids (cichlids). Most often in aquariums fish of a variety red parrot. They were withdrawn artificially by crossing different types of fish with cichlases.

Like many other hybrid species, the fish of the species have a red parrot very peculiar appearance (scientists attribute this to a violation of the regulation of the formation of organs). Their head is clearly separated from the body (behind the head on the back is clearly visible pronounced hump).

In length, the red parrot can reach 25 cm (10 cm for dwarf forms). The red parrot has a curved lower lip, so it can not be easy to eat. The color of these fish is bright, usually yellow, orange or bright red. To make the coloring brighter, you can feed the fish with special foods high in carotene.

Due to the fact that the red parrot belongs to interspecific hybrids, it sterile and can not have offspring, although it tries to spawn and lay eggs. Get a red parrot is possible only by crossing different types of cichlases. In principle, it is even convenient for those aquarists who do not want their fish to multiply. Although there are rumors that there have been cases of obtaining viable red parrot fry, but there is no confirmation.

Red Parrot - quite unpretentious fish, which boasts a fair amountendurance. These fish are practically not sick, and even if they fall ill, treatment in most cases has a successful outcome. In general, many hybrid varieties of fish are distinguished by endurance and good health.

The minimum volume of an aquarium for keeping the red parrot - 200 liters. The red parrot feels comfortable in the water at a temperature of about 22-26 ° C, stiffness up to 20 ° (optimum - 5-7 °) and pH about 7. Daily it is necessary to change 30-50% of water to fresh. Aeration is mandatory. The aquarium, especially small, should be covered from above - fish can jump out of it.

Red Parrot well coexists with other aquarium fish of the same size as him - the main thing is that in the aquarium was enoughspace and there were shelters. The best neighbors for him will be large barbs, large characins, arenas, black knives, Labeo, medium and large catfishes, medium and small South American cichlids. It is best to keep the red parrots either as a couple or as a group of 5 or more fish.

For plants in your aquarium can notworry - the red parrot refers to them with a cool and will not bite, so that the design of your aquarium will remain in perfect order. Much more interested parrots soil: they like to dig holes in it of a fairly large size, so the relief of the bottom can and suffer. To prevent parrots from digging in the ground while building nests, the water temperature in the aquarium should not be above 25 ° C.

Red parrot with pleasure eats both live and dry forages, therefore with feeding there will be no problems. The best food for him will be floating granules and bloodworm. But red parrots can not be overfed. Uneaten food must be obtained from the aquarium.

If all the rules of the content are observed, the red parrot can live in an aquarium for up to 10 years, pleasing you with its funny appearance, bright coloring and cheerful disposition.