Red Parrot Fish " the Blood Parrot Cichlid" - 3"

The Red Parrot Fish, most commonly known as the Blood Parrot Cichlid, is a vibrant, human-made hybrid freshwater fish first bred in Taiwan in the mid-1980s. It is highly popular in home aquariums due to its bright orange-red color, round balloon-like body, and uniquely shaped "beak" mouth that gives it a permanent smiling expression. 

Tank Setup and Care Requirements

While they are hardy and adaptable, they require a well-maintained environment:

Tank Size: Minimum 30 gallons (approx. 115 liters) for a single juvenile, but a 55-gallon tank or larger is strongly recommended for adults or if kept with tank mates.

Water Parameters: Keep the temperature between 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a stable pH level between 6.5 and 7.8.

Aquarium Decor: They love to hide and dig. Provide plenty of smooth caves, terracotta pots, or large PVC pipes so they feel secure. Avoid sharp gravel; a soft sand substrate is ideal.

Diet: They are omnivores. Because of their deformed mouths, they do best with high-quality sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and brine shrimp.

🐠 Ideal Tank Mates

Because their unique mouths prevent them from doing physical harm, they are classified as semi-peaceful or mildly territorial.

Good Companion Fish: Keep them with medium-sized, peaceful to semi-aggressive fish like Severums, Angelfish, Silver Dollars, Clown Loaches, and Corydoras catfish.

Fish to Avoid: Do not keep them with very aggressive cichlids (who will bully them) or tiny fish like Neon Tetras (which they might accidentally swallow).

 ⚠️ Buyer's Note: Naturally, these fish turn from black/grey as juveniles into bright shades of red, orange, or yellow. Avoid buying "dyed" variants (often marketed as blue, purple, or green), as chemical dyeing is highly unethical and significantly shortens the lifespan of the fish.