Blood Parrot Cichlid
Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus
Cichlidae
About
A man-made hybrid cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus) first bred in Taiwan around 1986 — it does not exist in the wild. The balloon-round, orange-to-red body ends in a small, beak-like mouth that cannot fully close, which limits its bite and makes it unusually mild-mannered for a 20 cm Central American cichlid, though it defends a territory when spawning and males are almost always infertile.
Care
Give the first fish roughly 150 L and a 100 cm footprint, adding 80–100 L per extra parrot; keep one or a group of three-plus (in a pair one bullies the other), with strong filtration and warm, clean water.
Diet
Omnivore with a weak, scoop-like bite: feed small floating pellets it can line up and inhale, plus frozen brine shrimp, mysis or krill, and watch that quicker fish do not eat its share.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (41)
Possible with care (184)
Avoid (46)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Extended finsStrong · from about 8 months, and later in a suppressed male
On many cichlids and killifish the male's dorsal and anal fins draw out into trailing points as he matures, while the female's stay rounded.
- VentingA hint only · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Blood Parrot Cichlid need?
- A Blood Parrot Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 150 litres (39.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 100 cm (39.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Blood Parrot Cichlid need?
- Blood Parrot Cichlid does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–8 and a general hardness of 6–18 °dGH.
- What group size does a Blood Parrot Cichlid need?
- Blood Parrot Cichlid is a social species — keep a group of at least 3 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Blood Parrot Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Blood Parrot Cichlid is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.