Blood Parrots With Cichlids Or Mbuna?

[Lisa67]

In my title I meant to say Frontosa or Mbuna. Apparently I can't edit it...Anyway,

I am well aware of peoples' thoughts on parrot fish. However, I aquired 4 small blood parrots from a friend who is moving cross-country and couldn't take them. While I'm not thrilled with taking them, I hate to think of her other options. (And they are kind of cute in an ugly way).

So, these are my choices for the moment... I can put them in either my mbuna tank or my frontosa tank.
The mbuna tank is a 55 gal with a wide variety of mbuna who are coexisting in relative peace.

Or, I can leave them in my 75 gal tank with 4 young frontosa. They seem to be doing OK except that one parrot has been hiding behind a silk plant leaf and I'm starting to feel sorry for it. I could add lots more rocks, etc to create hiding spots.

Has anyone tried parrots with mbuna?

 

[minnnt]

Faced with only them two options the young frontosa tank will be the best option, but you will either need to rehome them or get them a tank of their own. I'm guessing the water conditions that frontosa's and BP's need are very different?

 

[Lisa67]

Eventually all of my tanks will be reorganized (as soon as a child or two moves out and I have more space). However, that will be atleast a year or maybe even two. At that time, I will get a large tank for the frontosa.

As far as water requirements, they seem to like the same temp from what I've read. My PH is very high. I think the parrots like it a little lower, but my friend also had water about the same as mine and they did fine for the past few months.

 

[Lisa67]

Well, I must say I'm actually starting to like the little guys even though I never thought I would. The thing I don't like is that I had a very natural looking tank and now I have these hot-pink fish that look like something out of a Disney movie!

However, they are very social and come to the glass when I'm there. They don't bother the Frontosa at all and don't seem to be bothered by them since I added more hiding spots.

In the last few days I've been thinking... I'm TOTALLY opposed to injecting fish with dye. However, is there a reason that we are so opposed to cross-bred fish, but have no problem with Labradoodles and cocapoos?

 

[markandhisfish]

imho you would be better of finding homes for the parrots its not reaaly a good mix with african cichlids .

 

[Lisa67]

If I start having any problem at all, I will take them to the pet store. So far the frontosa seem to be totally oblivious of them... (the fronts are too busy going after each other, which is nothing new).

I'd hate to take them to Petco or Petsmart which is unfortunately my only option... unless I want to drive over an hour. I don't have any friends who are interested in having a fish tank.