Blood parrot cichlid
hybrid
A man-made hybrid cichlid with a round body and a beak-like mouth that barely closes; usually gentle and rarely able to swallow tank mates.
Key facts
- Body length
- 7.9 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 36 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Small sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp
- Origin
- Captive-bred hybrid (Taiwan)
- Hardier than67%
- Bigger than84%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Blood parrot cichlid tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Blood parrot cichlid is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpAmano shrimp outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater eats slow fish: Blood parrot cichlid (SF: присасывается к бокам крупных соседей, объедая слизь).Risky
- Clown loachClown loach outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Common plecoAmazon sailfin catfish (common pleco) outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Blood parrot cichlid: prey body depth 8.0 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Redclaw crayfishRedclaw crayfish eats slow fish: Blood parrot cichlid.Avoid
- AxolotlAxolotl should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Black ghost knifefishBlack ghost knifefish can eat Blood parrot cichlid: prey body depth 8.0 cm ≤ mouth 10.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for blood parrot cichlids: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 20 cm (TL)
- Adult mass
- 143.36 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 19.67 BU
- Min. water
- 114 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- round, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Aquarium Co-Op: Blood Parrot Cichlid
Care notes
Blood parrots are captive-bred hybrids of Central American cichlids and do not occur in the wild. They usually reach about 8 inches, and males are typically infertile.
Plan roughly 29 gallons per fish and keep a group of three rather than a pair. Their deformed mouth makes them slow, clumsy eaters, so feed small pellets; they rarely dig and suit a planted tank.
Questions
What size tank does a blood parrot cichlid need?
At least 36 gallons (114 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 7.9 inches without fins.
How many blood parrot cichlids should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do blood parrot cichlids need?
72–82 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 0–0 dGH. Blood parrot cichlids come from Captive-bred hybrid (Taiwan).
How long do blood parrot cichlids live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with blood parrot cichlids?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Panda corydoras, Otocinclus and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.