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New to Blood Parrot Cichlids --- Shyness Issues

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 10:53 — jcannonb

Cheers to you all.  Thanks for providing such a dedicated forum.
I have a 120 gallon tank with 2 oscars that are about 8" long now.  I toyed with the idea of adding a BP cichlid, but since the oscars are 8" now, and all the BPs I see are always 3" or so, I decided it probably wasn't a good idea.  

Saturday that changed.

Saturday, I walked into an LFS and they had a 5" plump Blood Parrot, all natural color and I snapped it up.  Sunday, (s)he ate, was swimming around.  The oscars so far have largely left her/him alone.  I was a little surprised by that.  The BP started acting shy though and trying to hide, I guess (s)he didn't feel like (s)he had a place to call home, so, since I am dealing with cichlids, I reorganized everything in the tank, so new territories would have to be determine for both the oscars and the BP.  

The BP found quite an intimate hiding spot, very secluded, and now all (s)he does is sit there in their little home.  Is this an acclimation issue?  Will it just take time for the BP to adjust to my tank?  The BPs color is outstanding, not breathing hard or anything.  It just sits there.  It also didn't come out to eat this morning.  It did appear to pick up some food that drifted into it's home.  But it did not actively pursue food.  Since the oscars aren't fighting with it, I tend not to believe that it is being bullied.  It "looks" very healthy, (s)he just acts real shy.  You will see in the video link below, on day 1, (s)he ate and was quite active.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-CPEkigi8g

Comments, questions, advice?

Thanks in advance.
:-)

Comments

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 15:06 — jcannonb

Oscars...

Thanks for your input. I am not sure if I have a mated pair of oscars. They are not a year old yet, and they themselves bicker at times. I have no idea what the oscars' sex is. The Oscars have left the parrot alone. There was some 'nudging' when they ate on Sunday, but that was it. There has been no bullying of any kind. My albino oscar has been known to bully at times, so I know how (s)he can pick on another fish. The albino has done none of that to the blood parrot.

If there are signs of bullying, I will absolutely move the blood parrot out. I have no desire to make a fishes life hell.

Cheers for your response,

Joshua

Wed, 08/04/2010 - 13:47 — jcannonb

FYI --- He did start coming out a little yesterday

He swam a little yesterday morning and today when I first turned the light on, so he isn't always staying in his home anymore, but he doesn't stay out long.

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 19:10 — Chrisplosion

My oscar gets along with all

My oscar gets along with all my parrot except for the new one. But hes calming down. I find theres a like a good two weeks I have to wait for him to get used to the new fish. He will shoo the new fish away but doesn't try to kill it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RuGYvAH-3k

Like shaz said, parrots like to hide when you first get them.

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 14:48 — shaz

shy parrot

parrot normal behavior when new is to find a spot and hide, eventually with time and patience they eventually come out but it can takes weeks, BUT I,m sorry to say this ,and its only my opinion, but i would never recommend putting a parrot with an oscar, its like being stuck with the school bully,(esp when theres 2 of them) although it can work out it if they were bought at the same time, if your oscars are a mated pair i would move your parrot, let us know how it works out

Tue, 08/03/2010 - 19:11 — Chrisplosion

If they are 8 inches then

If they are 8 inches then they are to young to be a mated pair. They can't breed until they are around 2 years old and by then they should be at least 14 - 16 inches.