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Blood Parrot Fish

Bloody Parrot ~ Blood Parrotfish ~ Jellybean Parrot

Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy Giannis

   The Blood Parrot is just about the most curious result of cichlids interbreeding, and has created quite a stir in the aquarium hobby!

   It is not uncommon for cichlids to interbreed in a hobbyists aquarium. When they are in spawning mode, they will often respond to a fish of the opposite sex whether it is the same species or another fish of a closely related species. The Blood Parrot, also called the Bloody Parrot or Blood Parrotfish, are a unique hybrid fish. They do not occur in nature.

Hybrid Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Blood Parrots have a very small mouth and a roundish "balloon" shaped body. Perhaps they are called Parrotfish because their nose looks like a 'parrots' beak. They can be solid or have a "calico" patterning or blotching., are available in a variety of colors. They range from basic pale or bright yellows, to oranges and reds. Dyed fish sport purples, pinks, blues, and more colors. These are generally sold as the 'Jellybean Parrot' and 'Bumble Gum Parrot' though there are also names that describe them by their color such as 'Purple Parrot'. Then there are Blood Parrots described by their physical appearance such as the 'Love Heart Parrot' which has no tail fin.

   The Blood Parrots are a peaceful, shy fish that should not be kept with real aggressive tank mates. However, if you keep them in a community aquarium with similar sized fish, be aware that they can be territorial. They like an aquarium with lots of rock formations and caves for retreating and hiding. Plants are not essential though they do not harm them.

   These fish should not be confused with the Parrot Cichlid Hoplarchus psittacus which is another freshwater cichlid from South American that is quite aggressive. There is also no relation to the saltwater Parrot Fish Callyodon fasciatus.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Geographic Distribution Data provided by GBIF.org

Distribution:    The Blood Parrot, also called the Bloody Parrot and Blood Parrotfish, and another variety known as the Jellybean Parrot are fish developed by breeders and hobbyists. Since they are a hybrid, they are domestic and only found in aquariums. The Blood Parrot is said to have been bred in Taiwan and the suggested parents are Central and South American cichlids.

Status:    There are no wild populations of this species.

Description:    The Blood Parrot has a roundish 'balloon' shaped body. They have a very small mouth and are perhaps they are called Parrotfish because their nose looks like a 'parrots' beak. They also have some other distinctions, their spines are deformed which gives them their unique shape, the iris of their eyes is overly large, and they are awkward swimmers.
   They can be solid or have a 'calico' patterning or blotching and they are available in a variety of colors from basic pale or bright yellows, to oranges and reds. There are also color varieties, which are dyed albinos or dyed light colored Blood Parrots. These are generally referred to as the 'Jellybean Parrot' and 'Bumble Gum Parrot', though their names can describe them by color such as the 'Purple Parrot'. Then there are Blood Parrots described by their physical appearance such as the 'Love Heart Parrot', which has no tail fin.
   A further developed variety is the Convict Parrot Cichlid, which is also called the 'Jellybean' Parrot or 'Bubble Gum' Parrot'. This is actually a 'double hybrid' fish. It is a cross between a female hybrid Blood Parrot and a pink male Convict Cichlid Archocentrus (Cichlasoma) nigrofasciatus. Blood Parrots have reportedly been crossed with other cichlid species such as the Severum and the Texas Cichlid. So there may be other new varieties showing up down the road.
   All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.
   Cichlids have one nostril on each side while other fish have 2 sets. To sense "smells" in the water, they suck water in and expel the water right back out after being "sampled" for a short or longer time, depending on how much the cichlid needs to "smell" the water. This feature is shared by saltwater damselfish and cichlids are thought to be closely related.

Size - Weight:    These fish generally get up to 6 - 7" (15-17.5 cm), though some will reach 8" (20 cm).

Care and feeding:    Since they are omnivorous the Blood Parrot, Bloody Parrot, or Blood Parrotfish will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. To keep a good balance give them a high quality flake food or pellet everyday. Feed brine shrimp (either live or frozen) or blood worms as a treat. Live guppies and goldfish will suffice when they get bigger. Proteins high in B-carotene will promote good coloring.
  A 30 gallon tank will be fine for juveniles for the first couple of years, but for adults 55 gallons is suggested. They prefer slow to moderate moving water along with good efficient filtration. The aquarium should have low to moderate lighting. Provide a substrate of fine dark sand along with rocks and roots for places to hide along with open areas for swimming. Plants can also be included as they will not bother them.
   They can be easy to care for if water changes are performed frequently. Do water changes of 20 - 25% weekly, more or less depending on stocking numbers. If water quality is ignored, as with all cichlids, disease and death can occur. One common problem is Ich. It can be treated with the elevation of the tank temperature to 86° F (30° C) for 3 days.

Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:   These fish will swim in all areas of the aquarium.

Acceptable Water Conditions:    Hardness: 2-25° dGH
   Ph: 6.5 to 8.0
   Temp: 70-82° F 21-28° C. Their colors will pale in the lower temperatures.

Social Behaviors:    As a cichlid with aggressive parents, they would not be considered a community fish, but their shy peaceful nature has allowed them to be kept in aquariums with other fair sized fish. If kept with other cichlids, make sure their tank mates are not overly aggressive. They can be kept with Angelfish, peaceful catfish such as Corydoras and Glass Catfish, Kuhli Loaches, Swordtails, Tetras, Plecostomus, and Silver Dollars.

Sexual Differences:    Sexing them is difficult. Males will show a pink around their gills and on the throat when they are in spawning colors.

Breeding/Reproduction:    The Blood Parrot has been known to breed, but most often their eggs are infertile unless they are paired with a non-hybrid fish.

Availability:    The Blood Parrot or Jellybean Parrot, has become commonly available. They can often be found in fish stores and sometimes online. The Convict Parrot Cichlid (which is also called the 'Jellybean' Parrot or 'Bubble Gum' Parrot') is also sometimes available. They can often be found in fish stores and sometimes online ranging from about $8.00 USD and up for the Blood Parrot, and about $12.00 USD and up for the Convict Parrot Cichlid. Price is dependent on size, color, and type.

Author: Clarice Brough, CFS

Lastest Comments on Blood Parrot View all 196 comments on Blood Parrot Add Your Comment

Arijit Sarkar - 2012-02-07 I have 2 love heart blood parrot in my 55 gal tank. they are shy but not much, they love to irritate my severums. I dont know why they hate severums so much. In the same I have Green terror, blue dolphins, jellybeans etc,but those 2 hate only severums. It's a funny scene how they jointly chase my 2 severums. Click For Replies (1) Reply

Janie Dennis - 2010-10-26 I have a 55 gallon tank, I have all real wood and plants. I have one plecostomus, one dragon fish, one african water frog, three blood parrots, and small guppies for food. I've had other fish in the tank like kissing fish but my parrot fish seem to be really aggressive and they beat them to death. They are aggressive with all their tank mates and they like to eat the guppies too. When I bought these fish I was told they were passive/shy fish but that has not been my experience at all. I really like them a lot and would never get rid of them, they are fun to watch and a lot of interesting things.My question is should I just have just parrots in this tank or do you know of a breed of fish they are certain to get along with? Click For Replies (8) Anonymous - 2011-10-30 Hi we have two blood parrot fish have you tried chillids as they seem to be ok. We have been told that with parrot fish it's advisable to get similar size fish we have some mollies and tiger barbs and so far everything ok Alex Burleson - 2011-10-30 Blood Parrot Cichlids, are genetically engineered fish. They are going to have a range of personality wider than most species. From personal experience, I had a male-female pair, they were always passive, yet stood their ground staunchly. Plecostomus' are acceptable tank mates, as well as Dragonfish. However, African Dwarf/Clawed Frogs, which I believe you are referring to, could become greatly picked on by cichlids such as these. Guppies are too small of fish to be housed with Blood Parrot Cichlids. Blood Parrot Cichlids are best housed with Severums, Firemouth Cichlids, Acaras, Snooks, and related South American fishes such as those. Nick - 2011-11-10 Well I have 3 blood parrots right now with 4 Bala Sharks, 3 Placos, 1 Electric Blue Cichlid, and a Tiger Oscar Cichlid, and 1 Angel Fish...all within a 90 GAL tank...and they all do great together! Nick - 2011-11-10 One thing you should def. do is keep your PH balances right and your water very clean and as long as they are happy they won't be territorial.. Sharon - 2011-12-31 You are correct about the dwarf albino frogs. We have two and one parrot fish who picks on the frogs by pushing them around. We got a small scull where they can go and get away kades - 2012-01-02 I have one parrot fish she is very aggressive as well, but has a great personality and is fun to watch. I had trouble finding tank mates as well but I've found that she does well with tiger barbs (doesn't even notice them) and I have a pair of gouramis (green) since pastor fish are slower moving she can't keep up with them and its worked out well. The gouramis bring color to the tank and they aren't shy like some parrots. David Brough - 2012-01-02 Hey kades, thanks for the info on what else you can put in the tank with your BP. barry - 2012-02-03 with my parrot fish i had in a large albino oscar. they got on great, slept beside each other and followed each other around the tank. i have since sold my oscar and bought a gold severum and two convicts. gold severum is same size as the parrot and convicts a little smaller. they seem to be getting on great. convicts will square up to the parrot an odd time but no real trouble. but if i was starting over again id go for the oscar and the parrot on their own. you hear on different sites that they cant mix but id say you couldnt find a better match. Reply

Jennifer - 2012-01-29 Hello, I have a 55 gal. tank complete with heater, filter, large rock structure, a rock with a hole in it, a few plants and drift wood. I recently bought a blood parrot and when I first put him/her in the tank it was pretty active, but I had another cichlid in with it and the cichlid was very rough with the parrot. I have since removed the cichlid to another tank. However the parrot is still hiding. I've found the hiding spot recently and I'm concerned as the fish seems to like to float sideways under a rock ledge so that it is nearly completely hidden from the rest of the tank. I really have to look to find it. Is this behavior normal for a young BP in a new environment? and will it become more active as it gets used to the new environment? I just got the fish yesterday, so I'm still not sure of its normal activities or if its male or female so advice on sexing the fish would also be very helpful. Any advice is welcome, and thanks all in advance for the help. Click For Replies (1) Reply

Jen Brand Warneld - 2012-01-27 Hello. I bought a blood parrot fish about a month ago. I seems pretty docile, but not shy. It has been actively swimming all over the tank. I do have a Kissing Gourami and that shows attentive interest, but not overly aggressive with the Blood Parrot. The guaramis couriosity does not seem to phase the blood parrot. I noticed that for the past few days, the Blood Parrot has been hanging around/under on of te rocks in the 55g tank. It comes up to eat in the morning, then swims right back by the rock. It scares away any fish, other than the Gourami, that comes near it. I noticed the gourami scaring away other fish as well. The gourami has never in 2yrs paid attention to another fish, until I got the blood parrot. My water is fine, I feed once a day, its color is good,...any suggestions? Click For Replies (2) David Brough - 2012-01-28 I was going to say, it sounds like adding the Blood Parrot brought out the territorialness in both your fish. The fact that she may be guarding eggs confirms it. It should be okay to remove the eggs, especially since they cannot be fertilized. They may get back to less territorial behavior too. Jen Brand Warneld - 2012-01-27 I just inspected the rock a little closer and I believe the fish is guarding eggs. I just have the one parrot fish, so the eggs can't be fertilized since I don't have a male. If we remove the eggs, will she be ok? Reply

Bella - 2011-10-02 Hello everyone! I purchased a blood parrot fish yesterday (or should I say last night) from walmart. I have been so intrigued by 'bella' and have been watching her every move since, so when I noticed her doing some kind of bobbing movement at the top of the tank sort of like she was gasping for air, I pointed it out to my boyfriend and he replied she's ok that's what fish do. Well after 45 mins or so of her doing it I began to panick once I noticed her laying on her side floating!!!! I really don't know what went wrong. I fed her 3 times today and after doing research I realized that my 1.5 tank is entirely to small for her and my water may not be warm enough. Please if you have any more suggestions as to what may be the problem PLEASE let me kmow. My boyfriend changed the water and bella is now stabalized, I just don't want to wake up in the morning and find my first pet EVER .......flatlined!!!! Thank you in advance! Click For Replies (5) Charlie Roche - 2011-10-03 Behaviorial problems are usually a result of tank conditions. Gasping at the surface, swimming sideways etc. Yes, the tank is too small and if the temperature was not properly maintained, this could cause the problem. Hopefully, if you corected it quickly, all should be OK. So check you water conditions, temperature, PH etc. Anonymous - 2011-10-04 Thank you so much chris - 2011-10-07 Bella is going to get to be 8 inches when she's grown up. You need at least a 55 gallon tank. They also like the water on the warmer side, I keep mine at 80. BPs also need regular water changes of 25-30% weekly. A betta would be a better choice for your little tank :) This is a good reason not to buy from Walmart, the salesperson should have told you this especially with this fish since it is scientifically impossible not to fall in love with their cuteness...I was hooked on first sight too! Ty Hardymon - 2011-10-15 Gaping is a behavior that most fish perform when they are in an oxygen poor environment. It is possible (given the size of your fish tank) that there is an insufficient amount of O2 in your tank to sustain the fishes metabolic processes. I would strongly recommend a larger tank. And some reading on your part about your new pet. 0007 - 2012-01-27 Parrot fish release a lot of ammonia. Require 60 gal tank or 30 with300 gal filter. The tank must have a developed nitrogen cycle bractria takes months must be bought. 150 watt metal halide with plants help greatly. All tanks must cycle ammonia aka piss and shit roten food plants to nitrite also highly poisonous to nitrite less harmful to a harmless gas tht is the cycle when adding fish you must add befetial bactria not cheap crap from walmart only petco or a pet store. Still requires monthy testing for all these,and 50% water change when issues arise maybe even two on different days .CLEAR WATER CAN BE POISONOUS TAP WATER CAN BE NO INSTANT FIXES MUST DEVELPE AND ESTABISHED TANK HE WILL DIE BLACK SPOTS ARE SIGNS OF STRESS LEARN WHAT YOUR DOING BEFORE YOU BY THEY ARE VERY SMART ITS SAD YOU MADE A BAD CHOICE Reply

Julie - 2008-02-23 This web-site was most helpful in answering many questions I have had about my two blood red parrot fish. They, I can't tell which one, have been spawning, three times over the last several months, fiercely guarding the eggs and then eaten them. Our local pet store said I was nuts, that they didn't lay eggs or breed. I will research even further to learn what a non-hybrid is. Thank you. Click For Replies (5) Cher - 2010-05-08 If your local pet store doesn't believe that blood parrot fish can lay eggs then they're the crazy ones. I have 4 blood parrot fish and I have seen them lay eggs with my own two eyes. I have a video of them laying the eggs and the male trying to fertilize them. From what I've read, they do spawn but the eggs never hatch. My fish have laid eggs many times but each time they don't hatch. Cheryl - 2010-09-24 We have had our latest BP for about three weeks and it laid eggs in the last couple of days. She guards them all the time. We only have the one at this time but I had been told in the past that they were unisex. From what I have been reading here they do come in male and female. I had three other BP before for 4-5 years and they never laid eggs. The one we have now is about 1 1/2 inches. chris - 2010-11-13 I bought 2 parrots to go in my 75 gal take with my angels. The first day one of them caught one of my three neons, the other two are now very alert! A week or so after I bought them they hollowed out a rather large bowl in the gravel and laid eggs and now guard them constantly, aggressively chasing away any other fish that come by, but not harming them. The eggs have yet to hatch (it's been about 4-5 days). BEA - 2012-01-14 I'm fairly new to owning parrot fish. I have two orange ones that have gotten to be about 4 or 5 inches. then I bought two blue ones and 2 pink ones. I didn't know anything about "dyed" parrots. Paid more for them, but never again.I also have two white, I guess jellybeans. They hid under some plants and came out to eat and defended their corner against the much larger parrots and 2 guaramis, a few mollies, a couple of catfish,and two silver dollars. today ,I realized they had a bunch of baby fish with them! I keep reading about infertile eggs, hybrids etc. , but there are over 65 babies that I moved to another tank. Tonight, I see another bunch of babies down under the plants. I don't know much about parrot fish, but I guess I better learn! I only have a 35 gallon tank. I am working on setting up a 55 gallon. Antway, this site has helped a lot. Clarice Brough - 2012-01-15 This is very exciting! I would love to see some pictures of these guys spawning, and of the babies! If you have some good pictures, submit them to the gallery and we will try and include them on this article. Reply

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