Alright you guys, I'm hoping some people can give me some advice.... My fiance just started a tank of African cichlids, and while we were looking at fish for his tank, I fell in love with this parrot cichlid. The guys at Petland here where I live keeps calling him a Candy Parrot Cichlid, but I can't find any information about those anywhere. This particular parrot is about 2-2 1/2" in length, and a beautiful bright orange. The guy says he's been in their store for a while and would love to find him a home it's just been hard because he has an eye problem. He was saying that when there were more fish in the tank, he was picked on and now he really only has one eye. I haven't went down to buy him yet, but the guy has kind of set him aside for me. I'm hoping to go down and get him by the end of the week, and I'm super excited. I just have a lot of questions before I get him.
First of all, will it be a problem for him to be in a small 10 gallon tank (seeing as that's all I have for right now)? A friend of ours is giving us a 40 gallon hex tank in a few weeks and he'll be in it once we get it set up. I just don't want to cause any problems by putting him in a smaller tank to begin with.
Also, I'm really curious as to what kinds of fish I can integrate into a tank with him. I'd love to be able to have a pair of these, with some other species in the tank along with him, I'm just not sure what would be appropriate for me to put in a tank a long with him since I'm completely new to the cichlid world. ( I'd love to be able to put a pair of figure 8 puffers in their with him just because I love them so much, but I know that's probably a stretch). And the tank we're getting already has a 4" pleco in it that we have to take with the tank.
I hope someone can help, and I'm sure I'll have more wuestions as I try to go a long with this, I just want to do this right! Thanks guys!!
Comments
Re: help guys! I'm new at this!
I also say no puffers they can be very mean sometime. i have seen them kill fish much bigger then themselfs and with a missing eye the parrot has a big disadvantage. it is very nice that you want to give him a home though. good luck.
Re: help guys! I'm new at this!
Thanks for the idea about the pots! I never would of thought of that! After reading around, I'm not so sure that having a pair is going to be in my best interest with the tank that I'll be getting. I have had gourmis before, and some of them can be really beautiful, so I think maybe that will be the route that I go. I'm thinking it'll end up with probably 2 gourmis, >maybe< a few of the smaller tetras, and the pleco along with him in there. We've got the plants, so that shouldn't be a problem. I just want this guy to be happy! He's got such an amazing attitude! It's sad to say I've been down to see him like twice a week to make sure the guy working there is keeping his promise and holding him for me! I can't wait!
oh! and no worries! He'll be in a tank seperate from the African's. They've got they're own 40 gallon set up as it is, I just wanted a tank of my own since my fiance got to start his!
Re: Re: help guys! I'm new at this!
im so happy 4 u! ul love him. they r so fun to watch, especially when they fall in love with a certain spot in the tank. my big male (sun) has a teapot that he loves soooo much! its so cute to see him in it :) im gonna have to find him a bigger teapot though, hes getting big! my gouramis get along with my bps,but i would recomend that u only get 2 at the most,and get ones that r small so no one is a threat to anyone. also i heard that u should avoid getting kissing,or dwarf gouramis. cause of aggression. and to be on the safe side w/such a small space, dont get 2 males. we dont want the gouramis to fight w/ each other! good luck though :) im sure u guys will make each other very happy.
Re: help guys! I'm new at this!
I wouldn't mix a BP with African Cichlids. A BP cannot defend itself again aggressive fish.
Re: help guys! I'm new at this!
well if ur getting a 40 gallon u can have 2 parrots, but if u want other fish in there with him i would recomend just one. but if u want the parrot at all then u need the 40 gallon. the rule is that a parrot need 30 gallons then 10 gallons 4 every additional 1. so ul be right there. and im sorry, i think the puffers r out :( u should really only get smaller totally un aggressive fish. tetras always work, any kind, barbs usually work ( but watch 4 size! only get the ones who stay small, but big enough not to get eaten) a pleco is ok. i have 2 gouramis, but i wouldnt recomend that for u with ur tank size, they get to be around 3'' long. ur bps r gonna get to be around 7-8'' themselves! and make up hiding spots 4 them. u can use little clay pots on there side, teapots, even half a coconut! but i would just watch them on space, if they start fighting u could put up a bunch of big plants in the middle of the tank just for a visual barrier, but u can ask us then if u have any problems. in the meantime u should b ok. if ur getting 2 id really like to see them in a bigger tank than a 40, but ul b ok. just do regular water changes. let us know how it goes!