Blood Parrot Cichlid
A. citrinellus x V. synspilum
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–82°F (22–28°C)
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 7.9 in (20 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 32 gal (120 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- no natural occurrence
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
Plan on a tank of at least 120 liters for one fish, more if you keep several. They're mostly peaceful for cichlids but do best kept solo or with calm, similar-sized tankmates. Keep the water warm, in the mid to high 20s C, with a pH around neutral. They take pellets, frozen foods, and sinking foods; color-enhancing food helps hold their orange. Their mouths close poorly, so use feeds they can actually grab.
In the wild
The blood parrot is a man-made hybrid, so it has no wild habitat at all. Its parent species come from Central American rivers and lakes, which points to what it likes: warm, roomy water with caves and hiding spots. Give it a tank with smooth decor and open swimming space, since its body shape makes tight squeezes awkward.
Good to know
This is a cichlid hybrid, generally credited to crossing Amphilophus citrinellus with Vieja synspilum, with no natural occurrence. It grows to around 20 cm. The same crossbreeding that produces its round body and small beak-like mouth often leaves it with a deformed mouth and spine, and most are functionally infertile, so breeding is essentially unrecorded.
Did you know
Avoid the dyed and surgically altered versions. Heart parrots and the so-called jellybean or tattooed parrots are cut, dyed, or injected, all of which harm the fish. A plain blood parrot is already a hybrid, so there's no need to buy one that's been mutilated on top of that.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Blood Parrot Cichlid?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Red empress cichlid
Protomelas taeniolatus7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Red fin hap
Copadichromis borleyi7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Threadfin acara
Acarichthys heckelii7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
True severum
Heros severus7.9 in (20 cm)75 gal (285 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Alluaud's haplo
Astatoreochromis alluaudi7.5 in (19 cm)55 gal (210 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Altum angelfish
Pterophyllum altum7.1 in (18 cm)45 gal (170 L)79–90°F (26–32°C)