Hello =) I'm Sarah, I'm 21 years old from Georgia. I'm new to the site. I had a Parrot for 4 years who recently died as a result of me moving my tank. He was AWESOME! His name was Spike and he did all kinds of tricks and stuff. Anyway, to replace Spike I recently got another Parrot. His name is Jaws. I've had him about 3 weeks now. I have a 55 gallon tank which he has to himself with the exception of an 8" pleco who causes no trouble. Actually he kind of recruited the pleco in to his army for protection from me. I have a few questions about his behavior...
When I got him he hid for the first week and I never saw him eat. He was extremely shy, which is understandable. Sometimes at night or when he thought I wasn't looking he'd come out and hang upside down by his tail from the surface of the water and he looked dead, but when I'd bump him he was perfectly responsive as if he'd been sleeping maybe. Now, I wake up to find him wedged into a decoration, not moving and looking totally dead except for the faint movement of his gills. He's not dead and I know he'll freak out if I check on him. IS he sleeping? Can anyone help answer that? =)
Here's a photo if anyones interested...
Wedged into the decoration... He's not stuck, he's just gently wedged to make himself stay there.
Comments
Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
Thanks for all the answers! I'm starting to agree that he's sleeping. I haven't seen him hang upside down anymore. He has two cave type decorations that he hides in and peeks out at me. You can't even see him when he does it. He's just a lil eye looking out. I guess it's good that he's coming out and feeling OK about sleeping out in the open considering he didn't leave the cave for a week when I got him.
I was wanting to get him a friend because he's just a little 2 inch fish alone with the pleco. I'm not sure what to mix him with considering aggression and the fact that he and the new tank mate will both grow... Suggestions? The tank is 55 gallons, not too heavily decorated. There's plenty of swim space and a few hiding places. Will angel fish go with a parrot?
Re: Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
some people have been ok w/ bps and angel,some not so much. thats iffy. with a 55 u could get another parrot, or gouramis r good. or u could just be on the safe side and get some different species of tetras.
Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
Mine do that all the time, moreso when they are new to the tank....my older ones don't do that so much anymore, but the silly things do find some very odd ways to hang out. I have one that has suddenly decided she loves to lay under the filter flow from the overhang filter. She's always hanging out under there with water falling on her. She's lively and eats great and interacts as normal, she just found a new spot to call her own I guess!
I have another that is obsessed with the bubble wands...her name is, appropriately so, Bubbles. She is always behind the bubble curtain with her nose straight down into the bubbles. It looks highly uncomfortable but she's done that since the day I brought her home some time ago.
When I first got Parrots I constantly woke up and looked into my tank and saw dead fish everywhere...now I know better. They just like to freak me out.
They DO get over their shyness....mine come rushing to the tankfront whenever they see me now, but still hide for strangers.
Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
Another thought, I have never seen a fish float to the top, I am not saying it is impossible. I learn more about BPs every day. But I am familiar with most other types of fish. When I saw them float to the top, they normally had a swim bladder problem. They had trouble staying down even when awake.
There are three main things according to what I've read that can lead to swim bladder disease. Constipation, bad water quality and/or bacteria.
First, Have you checked your water levels? Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels? Bad water can cause many problems.
If you don't know how, most fish shops and maybe Wal-Mart's carry a dip strip for a decent reading. The best is something like a Freshwater master test kit. But for your purposes, if you don't know, the dip strip will do. This is very important. When you get the tests done, let us know. If you can't find the strips, try your pet shop with a sample of your water. Very important.
Then you need to feed your fish a fresh pea. Frozen peas thawed, popped out of the skin, and cut into bite size pieces. Peas should be a regular in your BPs diet. They help his digestion and help keep him from being constipated.
Since you have just had your BP for three weeks, it would be a good idea to keep an eye on it, just to be sure it is not coming down with something.
I am not trying to worry you, but it is better to know more, just in case.
Your water is very important, so are the peas.
Good luck
Re: Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
I had never seen it with any of my other fish either Nostagia. It really scared me when I first saw my BP's doing it. They are literally straight up and down while they are sleeping. Sometimes on the bottom. It looks like they are standing on their head. lol!! It happened all of the time when I first got them. Now, not so much.
I keep my water perfect and they get their peas twice a week. I really think it's normal.
Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
Hi
Do you have any caves, tunnels, clay pots etc in your tank. BPs need a place of their own :) They feel more secure and not as vulnerable. where they can hide, yet see what is going on. As the adjust they will start to wonder out more, into the world they watch most of the time.
Doesn't look like he sees much facing that direction! :-)
Good luck
Hi Sarah, Welcome to the
Hi Sarah,
Welcome to the site. Love your tank.
My fish do the same thing. They will try and wedge themselves into rocks or under the rocks so that they don't float up to the surface while they are sleeping. Sometimes they do float up. When they wake up at the surface with their tail in the air, they totally freak out and take off bumping into things. I'm so afraid they are going to hurt themselves.
When they were smaller, they would fit inside of some of the decor. I could see them floating inside the decor against the top. The decor was keeping them down and not letting them float up.
Hope that helps:)
Re: New User w/ a New Parrot & a Question
Maybe hes stuck? Juvinilles like to hide and I have heard stories of babies will pretend to be plant leaves and even do what you described to imitate the filter or heater. Its hard to tell by the pic but about big is it.