Neptun
Cichlasoma parrotfish is a wonderful fish in many ways. This and its original shape and color and its origin. We must pay tribute to the art of Chinese breeders who managed to get such an original organism. But on the background of many advantages there are also disadvantages. However, these are not the shortcomings of the animal, but of the mouse fuss that people usually make for the sake of money.
Synonyms, names in other languages:Cichlasoma hybr. “Red Parrot” – Red, tri-hybrid.
Cichlasoma parrotfish Habitat
This species does not and cannot exist in nature. For the simple reason that it is a work of human hands. This hybrid was obtained artificially in Asia. The first mention of the new cichlasoma in the literature presumably dates back to 1986, when the first experience of Cher Chan was described in the pages of “Cichlids in Taiwan”. (There may be some confusion with the translation here. I hope the experts will correct me). Anyway, the first mention of this hybrid dates back to the end of the eighth decade of the twentieth century. Three species of cichlases were used to obtain it. Presumably these are Amphilophus citrinellus, Amphilophus labiatus, and Cichlasoma severum. Other combinations of gene donors are sometimes named. Among possible genetic precursors Paraneetroplus synspilus, Paraneetroplus fenestratus are named.
At the same time, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the names of the species that were used to create the hero of our story are most likely a trade secret. So perhaps we still do not know exactly what species were used, what was actually their number. And we can only take the word of the Taiwanese fish breeders that this is a three-hybrid creature and that no genetic engineering was used to produce it. Although genetic engineering probably had nothing to do with it. The first transgenic fish on the market appeared more than two decades later. Who knows who the Chinese are, though.
Cichlasoma parrotfish Description
The Red Parrot can reach up to 30 centimeters in length. Although in aquarium keeping its size is somewhat more modest and rarely exceeds 20 centimeters. The main features of this species are contained in the shape of its body and coloration. The head of the cichlasoma resembles the head of a parrot, hence the trade name – Red Parrot. Red because the most stable color is red. Although with improper nutrition red color also “fades” transforming into orange. Two huge eyes stand out on the head. The head ends with a relatively small mouth, frozen in a “Guenplain smile”.
Sometimes there are variations with a half tail, which gives the fish the outline of “floating hearts”.
Gender differences
Male and female outside the spawning period is almost impossible to distinguish. During spawning attempts are distinguished by the anal tubercle as all cichlasomes. In the male it has the form of a cone, in the female truncated pyramid or pear-shaped.
Cichlasoma parrotfish care and maintenance
As many Red Parrot hybrids are characterized by excellent health, appetite and sterility. In general, maintenance will not be a problem.
The volume of the aquarium should be at least 150 liters per pair. However, with a smaller habitat, your favorites will simply not reach their maximum size. Do not misunderstand my words – do not shove a flock of 10 individuals in a ten-liter bottle. Although my attitude to this work of human hands and has a somewhat negative connotation, nevertheless, the fish is still decorative and certainly not guilty of what man has done to it. After all, most goldfish breeds are also bred by Chinese breeders. And their art, of course, deserves respect, and cichlasoma, obtained by them, should be kept as a work of art breeders koi it is. It is not the fact of breeding that is annoying, but the commercialization that it is all getting thanks to people who, as a rule, have nothing to do with it.
Does the fish need this color palette
I’ll try to justify my dislike. It has already been pointed out above that one of the primary colors is red. But it is not stable either. To maintain it, you should feed your pets specially formulated food rich in carotenoids. Thanks to these substances, your pet will keep a bright color for a long time. With improper nutrition, the coloring becomes pale. More often stops at orange, but can discolor to yellow or become gray at all. This is the case with the red color.
As for other colors, here too everything is quite simple and transparent. It is normal for hydrobionts to acquire the color of pigments absorbed with food. Remember botany class? To get a violet of unusual coloring, we watered it with a weak ink solution.
And if we exclude the intervention of genetic engineering, we can assume that green cichlasoma parrots are obtained due to some green pigment added to the food. Hence the need to feed a food designed for parrots with a green color. If, for example, you give him food with pigments for blue “varietals”, he is likely to lose his emerald coloration. But what natural natural pigment can color a fish green? I think that the paint added to the feed is synthetic, and how harmless it is to the fish themselves and to those around them, including their owners, remains to be guessed. This was about the single-color palette.
Hieroglyphics Comercial or mockery?
If you happen to see a cichlasoma with hieroglyphics. That be aware that the fish to get such a drawing was subjected, in general, that mockery. Such a drawing is applied in the same way as a tattoo. It is possible that the fish are anesthetized in some way. Although I personally doubt it. And it’s all about the money. Fish like that cost more.
“Think for yourself, decide for yourself to have or not to have…” But every time you buy such a fish with a tattoo whether you want it or not you invest money in this business condemning another fish to a procedure, which she would hardly agree to if anyone asked her about it.
Ground for the aquarium: fine pebbles or gravel is suitable. Despite all the efforts of man, cichlasoma parrot kept the instinct to preserve the species and in a vain attempt to reproduce, will dig up all the soil in the aquarium digging up plants, creating holes and mountains on the bottom. As the bottom can be decorated with snags, roots of plants, large stones should be built rocks, gorges, grottoes. Given the above, plants should be planted in pots, masking them with large stones that these fidgeters will not be able to move out of place. It is better to choose mechanically strong plants with stiff leaves.
Water parameters
The temperature should be between 22 and 27°C. pH 6.5 – 7, 8°. Hardness 8-20 °dH. There are recommendations – do not increase the temperature above 24 ° C. This will somewhat suppress the instinct to reproduce, which in turn will prevent the need to break the soil and save your plants.
Bright lighting is recommended. Although I think it is rather to emphasize the bright coloration of the animal. The cichlasoma itself hardly needs bright lighting.
Aeration and filtration
Aeration and water filtration are essential. They should be very intensive, but this is still not sufficient for the well-being of your pets. Among other things, it is necessary to change 30% of the water once a week with fresh, tempered water. Some authors indicate that it is desirable to change 10% daily. I think that 30% per week will be quite enough.
Compatibility: Aquarium fish parrots by nature are not vicious and may well get along with other species. It should only take into account that the formation of a pair they “flirt” and can corner anyone … Well, almost anyone. In the species aquarium is better to keep a small flock of five fish. In general, it is better to pick up fish commensurate sizes. Since small neighbors, such as guppies, neons, danio rerio can be eaten. In a less calm discus or scalaria similar to their creators cichlasoma parrotfish can pull food right out of the mouth.
Cichlasoma parrotfish Nutrition
Appetite сichlasoma parrotfish man has not deprived. Will eat with pleasure everything that will fit in his mouth. And the quality of food is far from the first place. It may well eat in the morning the remains of yesterday’s dinner and make a merry life for its owner, who was lazy to remove the undigested food in the evening.
You can feed the same food that most cichlasmas prefer. Moths, earthworms, insects, shrimp, raw fish pieces. Plant supplements rich in carotenoids are necessary.
But if you want to keep as long as possible the color with which you bought your parrot, then it should be regularly fed with branded feeds, in which the manufacturer adds a certain pigment.
Breeding in this article I will not describe. The fact is that as most hybrid life forms aquarium parrot fish are infertile. Or rather infertile males. Females may well lay eggs, which can be fertilized by males of other related species. Particularly those used to create the hybrid. There will even be a full-fledged offspring, but it won’t be a red parrot.
Cichlasoma hybr. “Red Parrot” can only be obtained by reproducing the technology used in fish farms in Asia. However, if you want to experiment, the conditions for reproduction of these fish are not very different from most cichlasomes.
In general, the fish is very friendly. Interested in humans even more than other cichlids. Tracking every movement of your hand with the hope of another tidbit. So, you can safely buy cichlasoma parrot if you like it. Well, to not torment the conscience take exactly red varietet without any patterns that appeared “naturally”.
