Actually the name "parrot" does not apply at allto some single species of fish. Under it can hide completely different bright and colorful fish. Yes, not only fish, but just real fish. So, for example, tropical fish parrots, living in coral reefs, reach a length of two meters. And in small rivers and freshwater lakes in Central Africa, small parrot fish live. It was these Central African fish that moved to our aquariums, and they talked about them.
Portrait sketch
Aquarium parrots belong to the detachmentPerciformes and the family of cichlids. This is a fairly large fish for the aquarium. The parrot reaches a length of ten centimeters. Its elongated and flat on the sides of the body is painted in a yellow-brown or gray-blue color. His back is dark, and on the sides (from the tail to his mouth) a broad band appears black. The color of the abdomen, most likely, and owe their name to these fish - the parrot "brightens" from the bottom. His belly is as if illuminated by colorful lights: brightly red in the middle, pearly-green is closer to the head and bluish at the tail. Males differ from females not so much in size, as characteristic marks on the tail - a few dark spots that sometimes merge. And his tail and dorsal fin are sometimes bordered on top by a golden strip, and the hind fins are always sharpened.
Features of behavior
Some features of thisfish, in general, she is peace-loving, while it does not concern the continuation of the family. During spawning, it becomes very aggressive (therefore breeding parrot fish presents some difficulties). It is also interesting to observe the territorial integrity of males. He creates his own territory and is vigilant from all its guard. The only exception he makes for his girlfriend, who is allowed to be on its territory. By the way, these aquarium fish are monogamous, they form permanent married couples, and live mainly in the lower and middle layers of water. Not less interesting are aquarium fish parrots and during spawning. First, a couple of parrots prepare a place for future offspring: the female cleans the walls of the shelter, and the male vigilantly protects the territory. Having prepared the house (in which they live) for caviar, the female demonstrates to her partner her multi-colored abdomen, informing her about the readiness for the sacrament, and lures him to the house where she lays her eggs. It is also curious to observe how parents "feed" a flock of their fry that went out for a walk. If one of them decides to fight off the pack, he will immediately be caught by one of the parents and put in place. 
Features of the content
The content of parrotfishes does not represent a persondifficulties. But there are some nuances here. Given the territorial nature of the behavior of these fish, they are not recommended to be kept with other species (this complicates their breeding). Although, inhabited in the lower layers of the water, they can peacefully get along with the "over-riding" neighbors. Nevertheless, aquarists advise to keep parrots in pairs, which were formed during the schooling habitat of fry. They also say that several pairs of the same litter (siblings) can easily get along in one territory. For the maintenance of several pairs, an aquarium with a volume of sixty liters is required. It is also necessary to equip the habitat with grottoes and caves, which should be located at a distance from each other and from the place where you are going to feed your fish. How many shelters should there be? Yes, any number, but less than the pairs themselves. In addition to the grottoes on the bottom of the aquarium it is desirable to install driftwood and stones, and also to "provide" thickets of hard-leaved algae. And remember that peacefully coexist aquarium fish-parrots will only be able to have their own territory for each pair. Acceptable "quality" of water for aquarium parrots: temperature 24-26 ° C, acidity pH 6.5-7.5 and stiffness dH 6-15 °. In addition, water must be filtered and weekly updated to thirty percent of the volume. As for the feeding, in food the fish of the parrot are unpretentious. Feed it can be any live and dry food with herbal supplements. And breeding these fish will not be difficult while respecting the rule of territorial independence.
"Other", or Red Parrot
An unusual aquarium fish parrot red isartificially derived hybrid of various species of cichlases. It is unusual for its peculiar appearance: the lower lip is strongly bent, the head is visually separated from the trunk, and behind the head a hump rises. By the way, scientists associate such exotic appearance with physiological disorders. Fish red parrot grows to twenty-five centimeters in length and has a bright fiery red, orange or yellow color. By the way, to maintain the brightness of the color, feed these fish recommended with fodder supplemented with carotene. Like any interspecific hybrid, the red parrot can not produce offspring (but instinctively tries to do it), and it is impossible to breed this fish naturally. However, such a selection feint in hand to those aquarists who do not welcome the reproduction of fish in their aquarium. The content of the red parrot is quite simple. You can feed it with dry and live food, but you can not overfeed. No matter how much you feed, the gluttonous red parrot will eat it anyway, so all uneaten food from the aquarium should be cleaned. The optimal size of the aquarium for keeping the red parrot is from two hundred liters, the best neighbors are catfish, barbs, Labeo and South American cichlids. With proper maintenance, these hybrids live up to ten summers. And in general, the red parrot is an unpretentious and peace-loving fish, characterized by endurance and good health. All sorts of parrot fish parasites do not bother him, and even if he suddenly becomes enraged, then treatment, as a rule, is successful.
Conclusion, or the Myth of the "mini"
If you are offered to buy a parrot in the version"Mini", then do not fall for this bait! There are no aquarium parrots "mini" (their breeding still did not begin). Mini is a fiction, a myth! Under the guise of the "mini" option you are offered a special form of black-haired cichlazoma (black band), which is colored for parrot fish. And these "mini" grow up to the size of a usual black-and-white strip, and they are as aggressive as they are, and live as long as they are supposed to, and feed it according to the rules. So be careful! We advise you to read:
