How to Breed Red Blood Parrot Cichids

Red blood parrot cichlids are tropical cichlid fish that are the result of hybridizing various cichlids in the 1980s. They have become increasingly common in the pet trade and are known for their round bodies and red coloring. Male blood parrots are typically known to be infertile, which makes breeding impossible. However, successful breeding has indeed occurred in home aquariums and has become more common as the strain continues to solidify itself. Breeding blood parrot cichlids is relatively easy provided that the male is fertile, but it may take multiple attempts with multiple males before a successful breeding.

Things You'll Need

  • Breeding pair of red blood parrot cichlids
  • 30-gallon aquarium
  • Gravel
  • Aquarium filter
  • Dechlorinator
  • Aquarium heater
  • Ceramic plant pot
  • 10-gallon aquarium
  • Air pump
  • Airline tubing
  • Air stone
  • Liquid fry food
  • Nylon net
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a breeding tank for the cichlids. The tank should be 30 gallons with filtered, dechlorinated water, 2 inches of gravel on the bottom, and heated to between 74 degrees F and 82 degrees F. Place a ceramic planting pot on its side at the bottom of the aquarium. This is where the female will lay her eggs.

    • 2

      Introduce the breeding pair into the tank. Blood parrots express very little sexual dimorphism and can be difficult to sex. Males have pointier anal fins and may be larger than females of a similar age. Consider bringing fish to a breeder for proper sexing.

    • 3

      Wait for the fish to spawn. They will rub their bodies together when mating. This process could take several weeks. The female will lay her eggs on the roof of the planting pot, which simulates an underwater cave.

    • 4

      Wait one week for the eggs to hatch and observe them closely. If they start to turn bright white or develop fungus, then they are infertile and the parents will most likely eat them and you will have to wait for them to try again. If the eggs are still infertile after three attempts, swap out the male for another one and continue until you have fertile eggs, which will hatch after 3 to 7 days.

    • 5

      Fill the 10-gallon aquarium with dechlorinated water. This smaller aquarium will act as a fry (baby fish) tank. The tank does not need any decor or gravel.

    • 6

      Connect one end of the airline tubing to the output of an air pump and the other end to an air stone. Both the pump and air stone will have spouts that the tubing can squeeze over securely. Place the air stone in the fry tank with the pump activated to aerate the water.

    • 7

      Transfer the newly hatched fry to the fry tank with a nylon net. It's possible that the parrot cichlids will not attack their young, but using a fry tank will guarantee their safety.

    • 8

      Feed the fry liquid fry food for several weeks until they are large enough to accept crushed flake food. Remove any dead ones from the tank to avoid ammonia spikes. Place them into larger aquariums when they reach 1/2 inch long. They will reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 inches long.