Cichlasoma sp
The Blood Red Parrot Fish, also known as Blood Parrot Cichlid, Red Blood Parrot, Red Parrot Cichlid, Red Parrot Fish, Parrot Fish, is a hybrid fish that was first created in Taiwan in the mid to late 1980’s. Its parentage has been highly disputed, but the most commonly speculated pairings are Midas Cichlid (Amphilophus Citrinellus) with the Redhead Cichlid (Paratheraps Synspilum). One of the more wild theories is the Severum (Heros Severus) with the Red Devil Cichlid (Amphilophus Labiatus). Blood Parrots have a round body, a beak shaped head with an upside down triangle mouth. They are often seen in bright orange in coloration, but seen in other colors such as red, yellow, brown, and tan. Other colors have been produced such as green, blue, and purple by dyeing the fish, which shortens life expectancy.
Blood Parrots should be provided lots of open space and also hiding places and caves to establish as their territory. Dim lighting is best. They love to dig in the substrate, so soft gravel should be chosen. Higher temperatures can bring out their color. They will eat a variety of foods including flake, live, frozen, freeze dried foods and cichlid pellets. When Blood Parrots are kept together they will frequently fight during the day and sleep in the same cave at night.
Blood Parrots enjoy pelleted foods with occasional Blood Worm and Shrimp treats. A smaller pellet size should be used due to their mouths.Feeding can sometimes be tricky as some have more deformed mouths than others or gill curl or other gill deformities. If the Parrot has trouble feeding from the surface then it is recommended to switch to a sinking pellet. Thawed shelled peas should be fed once a week to add roughage to the diet to help prevent Swim Bladder problems.