Hi..I have a 30g tank and 2 parrots. I'm new to aquariums and parrots as well. What is normal behavior? I wonder because one of my parrots always kind of scares me, it barely moves and stays at the bottom of the tank all the time. Moves very infrequently. Is this normal? Also, in my tank I have a house with a waterwheel ...I had a pump connected to it and it made the waterwheel turn and bubbles come out the chimney...but the parrots would not move AT all...so, I though the current they created was too much, so I tuned off that pump and they are moving a bit more. But now, the 2nd parrot is staying hidden inside the house. Does that mean it's not happy? or is it ok and normal? Just want to make sure they are happy. I also have 2 barbs and 2 tetras (very small) in the tank. Is that too many fish? they seem to get along well enough. And diet...they don't seem to notice the flake food until most has settled to the bottom..what should I feed them?
I appreciate all advice.
Thanks in advance
Leigh
Comments
Re: New tank and parrot owner
well the house bubbling is no longer an issue. I found a regulator, have it turned back on but down really low...but turning it on seemed to send them back into hiding. They're staying behind the house ...so they'll have to adjust to it being on
Ok and now I'm super concerned...what if I find eggs? What do I do? Yeah if any of the other fish (including the other parrot) came near the house while "she" (I have no idea if it's female or male) was inside, she would dart out ...like chasing them away. What do I do if there are eggs in my house??????
Re: New tank and parrot owner
yes it does! thanks so much. I just was worried something was really making them unhappy to constantly be in hiding and wondered if there was anything I could do to make them more comfortable in the tank. The larger one will dart around alot...like go from point a to point b in miliseconds! but the other one doesn't really do that to that extreme. But neither seem aggressive towards my barbs or tetras. Guess this is what I get from buying fish at Wal-Mart instead of Pet Smart. Pet Smart could have told me what to expect. My dad has a 50g tank, I might see if he wants one of them for his tank since my tank is possibly too small for both of them. Thanks again!
new tank and owner
can you not swap tanks with your dad?, 50 galls would be perfect for 2 parrots, and you never know, your dad might like to downsize, as for food,I dont like flake food much, buy a good quality cichlid pellet, feed frozen, thawed, shelled peas once or twice a week(nip into bite size bits) this is like having fibre in their diet, really, really good for them,add frozen or live bloodworm(not to much, maybe once a week) and only feed as much as they will eat in 2 mins and if any reaches the tank floor, stop!they are very shy, it does take time, just one thing to consider, can you see any eggs in its hiding place, that would account for it staying there,does it dart out if anything comes near? but otherwise it will come out eventually, then you may find that the other one chases it everywhere for a while, PS my smallest holds the record on this site for an non appearance by a parrot, approx 2 months!!!!!
re:new owner
im sort of a new owner too. ive had mine 4 about a month or so,but they were really shy when i first got them. wouldnt come out of hiding, then i had to deal with bullying so watch out about that. but if its just shyness they should come out of that. but u might have to get a bigger tank later, ive heard they get big! as far as the waterwheel just wait till they get more comfy then turn it on. mine absolutely love to swim up and down in the bubble curtain. im not sure about the not eating, maybe there just scared, mine do that after i clean the tank. and mine like flakes,but they love brine shrimp and things like that :) hope it helps a little