Juice
Fish Fanatic
I was thinking of getting some red parrots to put in a 75 gal that I may be getting soon.
Are they good fish?
Are they good fish?
75 Gal
- Thread starter Juice
- Start date
funkycat
Fish Fanatic
They are cichlids so they are aggressive to other fish and will eat small fish.
Some of them are also dyed. And to actually get a parrot fish you have to cross breed other cichlids. There is a lot of controversy with parrot cichlids because they are hybrid species, and there are several "variations" tail-less, jellybean, etc. They can commonly have health problems due to bad breeding. They do look nice though IMO.
If you want to know more definately go to the hybrid section, the people there will be able to tell you all about them.
Some of them are also dyed. And to actually get a parrot fish you have to cross breed other cichlids. There is a lot of controversy with parrot cichlids because they are hybrid species, and there are several "variations" tail-less, jellybean, etc. They can commonly have health problems due to bad breeding. They do look nice though IMO.
If you want to know more definately go to the hybrid section, the people there will be able to tell you all about them.
Juice
Fish Fanatic
OK would this set up be good?
75 Gal (I am not sure on what filter is in there, haven't actually seen the tank but the guy said all 20 of his fish died and he doesnt really want fish anymore so the tank is mine if he gives it away)
4 Parrots
1 XL Pleco (the lfs has this beautiful pleco which is about 10 inches and in my price range)
Will they bother snails? I was thinking maybe 5 or so mystery snails if the parrots will not nibble on their antennas.
75 Gal (I am not sure on what filter is in there, haven't actually seen the tank but the guy said all 20 of his fish died and he doesnt really want fish anymore so the tank is mine if he gives it away)
4 Parrots
1 XL Pleco (the lfs has this beautiful pleco which is about 10 inches and in my price range)
Will they bother snails? I was thinking maybe 5 or so mystery snails if the parrots will not nibble on their antennas.
chicklette
Fish Crazy
I have one parrot named Doodles in my 75 gallon tank. I just love her to bits. Yes, I would not get the dyed ones; they can have an array of health problems. Stick to the regular ones.
Parrots are aggressive little buggers. The set up for your 75 gallon tank will work. Nope, they will be fine with snails. Actually this is funny but your pleco will clean the algae off the snails.As you can see I have snails in with Doodles.
Yes, there is a lot of controversy regarding parrots but everyone has a right to their own opinion. But I love them. They are just so adorable. I love my parrot to bits and I would be devastated of something happened to her. She is just a baby at 1".
A couple pictures of Doodles:
Parrots are aggressive little buggers. The set up for your 75 gallon tank will work. Nope, they will be fine with snails. Actually this is funny but your pleco will clean the algae off the snails.As you can see I have snails in with Doodles.
Yes, there is a lot of controversy regarding parrots but everyone has a right to their own opinion. But I love them. They are just so adorable. I love my parrot to bits and I would be devastated of something happened to her. She is just a baby at 1".
A couple pictures of Doodles:
OscarWilde
Fishaholic
IMHO. They are pretty Ugly fish. But they are a nice colour.
fry_lover
Fred and the Fredettes
i think it would work x4 Blood Parrots and x1 Pleco. Even if its that way for a while and the Pleco gets to 12" and the x4 Parrots are about 6-7" each, thats about 38", only 0.5" per gallon
You will get various magic formula's thrown your way, about how one parrot needs 235gallons and two need 470 gallons (i jest, and exaggerate), but fish keeping is not so black and white and these fomula's are next to useless if standard good fish keeping practice is adhered to, by this i mean (and assume you will be)
- Over filtered, in terms of really maximising your filtration, i would expect one goof external on that 75 gallon as a minumum and ideally i would go for two, as its nice to have some back-up (i know money could be an issue there).
- Water changes, looking at a minimum 20% weekly, i would do more
- If you keep these fish for most of or all of their life-time you would consider upgrading to a bigger tank, especially if you think about adding any fish to the x4 parrots and x1 pleco#
- Unless you really experienced, i would do some water testing, especially for the first few months, until you have everything nice and stable.
These are just my thoughts, i guess on my own idea of "good practice" others may differ, and i have only highlighted some of the basic's there.
For quite a while i have had x8 Blood Parrots in an 80 gallon with a few other fish, i am not moving up to a 145 gallon, as i intend to keep this fish for the rest of their life, i absolutely adore them, but wouldnt want any of the dyed kind. They are all bright orange, ranging from 4" to 6" presently.
If anyone says the parrots "might" not get on, or it might get too aggressive, well yeh, thats the same for virtually all cichlids, but i would not advise against that stock just in case it "might" happen. I think four is a decent number and any aggro should be spread out amongst them to stop one fish getting bullied.
You will get various magic formula's thrown your way, about how one parrot needs 235gallons and two need 470 gallons (i jest, and exaggerate), but fish keeping is not so black and white and these fomula's are next to useless if standard good fish keeping practice is adhered to, by this i mean (and assume you will be)
- Over filtered, in terms of really maximising your filtration, i would expect one goof external on that 75 gallon as a minumum and ideally i would go for two, as its nice to have some back-up (i know money could be an issue there).
- Water changes, looking at a minimum 20% weekly, i would do more
- If you keep these fish for most of or all of their life-time you would consider upgrading to a bigger tank, especially if you think about adding any fish to the x4 parrots and x1 pleco#
- Unless you really experienced, i would do some water testing, especially for the first few months, until you have everything nice and stable.
These are just my thoughts, i guess on my own idea of "good practice" others may differ, and i have only highlighted some of the basic's there.
For quite a while i have had x8 Blood Parrots in an 80 gallon with a few other fish, i am not moving up to a 145 gallon, as i intend to keep this fish for the rest of their life, i absolutely adore them, but wouldnt want any of the dyed kind. They are all bright orange, ranging from 4" to 6" presently.
If anyone says the parrots "might" not get on, or it might get too aggressive, well yeh, thats the same for virtually all cichlids, but i would not advise against that stock just in case it "might" happen. I think four is a decent number and any aggro should be spread out amongst them to stop one fish getting bullied.
Juice
Fish Fanatic
OK I thought about it I am going to take this one very seriously.
When I get the tank I will completely bleach it (as it is a used tank) where do I bleach a tank of that size? I obviously can't do it in the bathtub this thing is huge. Should I take it outside and fill with a garden hose, water and bleach, then let it soak all day then syphur it out? Then keep filling with clean water and syphuring again (obviously I can't tip the water out)
Once it is in the correct spot, I will cycle it for 2 months then do a complete home test as well as bring a sample to the lfs? Does it need to be longer then 2 months I mean a small 15 gal takes a week because its only got 15 gals to cycle how long should 75 take? I wish to do it for even longer then required because I want the water to be perfect.
Every weekend do a water change 25%
Feed them every morning
What is their typical diet? Do they eat live foods? I already know algae wafers for the pleco at night. But what do the parrots eat.
And lol, about the pleco it's cool when he goes to eat algae off snails/turtles, at the chinese resturaunt near my house they have a 60gal with 3 parrots, 6 turtles and a 6 inch pleco, the pleco is always ontop of the turtle I tried to get a pic but only had a camera phone
When I get the tank I will completely bleach it (as it is a used tank) where do I bleach a tank of that size? I obviously can't do it in the bathtub this thing is huge. Should I take it outside and fill with a garden hose, water and bleach, then let it soak all day then syphur it out? Then keep filling with clean water and syphuring again (obviously I can't tip the water out)
Once it is in the correct spot, I will cycle it for 2 months then do a complete home test as well as bring a sample to the lfs? Does it need to be longer then 2 months I mean a small 15 gal takes a week because its only got 15 gals to cycle how long should 75 take? I wish to do it for even longer then required because I want the water to be perfect.
Every weekend do a water change 25%
Feed them every morning
What is their typical diet? Do they eat live foods? I already know algae wafers for the pleco at night. But what do the parrots eat.
And lol, about the pleco it's cool when he goes to eat algae off snails/turtles, at the chinese resturaunt near my house they have a 60gal with 3 parrots, 6 turtles and a 6 inch pleco, the pleco is always ontop of the turtle I tried to get a pic but only had a camera phone
fry_lover
Fred and the Fredettes
bleach
i use bleach on my ocean rock sometimes in the bath tub, i know exactly how to get rid off all traces of bleach and its not quite the danger people think, using bleach for fish stuff....
but saying that, how comes you want to bleach the tank? Do you think it needs it? I dont have a problem with it, but it's going to be a hassle for sure, as you already know!
Perhaps you could do a thread about best ways to completey clean a tank?
I only use bleach on the rocks to clean them, its not the germs i am trying to kill.
If you are worried about contamination then i am sure there are other things perhaps you could use?
I am not sure, because i only use hot (but not boiling water) and a sponge, i heard vinegar or lemon juice is possible? Something acidic?
parrots diet
it's not a specialist diet, from my research when i got parrots, it's really a gold old fashioned varied diet that suits them, be sure to include some meaty component though, blood worms, brine shrimp, mysis (i use frozen, not live). They are also supposed to benefit from some vegetable component, mine will nibble on bits of courgette if they are weighted at the bottom of the tank, but mostly my bristlenose will eat it, but you could use some courgette maybe once a week and it will have the added benefit of the Pleco loving it.
also, small(ish) cichlid pellets would be good.
oh, and mine love prawns, absolutely go mad for them, and mussel as well. You will have to chop the prawns up into small bits
cycling tank
well done, for going down this route and being patient. Read the "stickys" on the forum about this, and also be sure to have a look at the stuff Rdd1952 wrote, he's one the moderators and is very approachable on this subject and other subjects
i use bleach on my ocean rock sometimes in the bath tub, i know exactly how to get rid off all traces of bleach and its not quite the danger people think, using bleach for fish stuff....
but saying that, how comes you want to bleach the tank? Do you think it needs it? I dont have a problem with it, but it's going to be a hassle for sure, as you already know!
Perhaps you could do a thread about best ways to completey clean a tank?
I only use bleach on the rocks to clean them, its not the germs i am trying to kill.
If you are worried about contamination then i am sure there are other things perhaps you could use?
I am not sure, because i only use hot (but not boiling water) and a sponge, i heard vinegar or lemon juice is possible? Something acidic?
parrots diet
it's not a specialist diet, from my research when i got parrots, it's really a gold old fashioned varied diet that suits them, be sure to include some meaty component though, blood worms, brine shrimp, mysis (i use frozen, not live). They are also supposed to benefit from some vegetable component, mine will nibble on bits of courgette if they are weighted at the bottom of the tank, but mostly my bristlenose will eat it, but you could use some courgette maybe once a week and it will have the added benefit of the Pleco loving it.
also, small(ish) cichlid pellets would be good.
oh, and mine love prawns, absolutely go mad for them, and mussel as well. You will have to chop the prawns up into small bits
cycling tank
well done, for going down this route and being patient. Read the "stickys" on the forum about this, and also be sure to have a look at the stuff Rdd1952 wrote, he's one the moderators and is very approachable on this subject and other subjects
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