keeping parrot cichlids for the first time

[sandman]

I'm in a bit of a bind here. My girlfriend and I have a 5 gallon and a 10 gallon tank. The 5 gallon's got two Chinese Algae Eaters - we didn't exactly plan on getting those, we were told they were regular algae eaters. Anyway, my girlfriend's now set on getting some Parrot Cichlids. I've done my research and it all points to Blood Parrots, which apparently get huge and need a massive tank. But here's the thing - the pet store's got them listed as Parrot Cichlids, and I'm not sure if that's the same thing as Blood Parrots or not. I don't want to end up with fish that'll outgrow our 5g tank and be miserable. Can someone please clarify this for me?

[wingbeat]

Blood parrots and parrot cichlids are likely one and the same, although there's a 'true' parrot cichlid that's different - it's quite rare and expensive, though.

Honestly, neither would thrive in your tanks; they'd be very unhealthy and unhappy, and probably wouldn't survive for long. They require a lot more space, ideally a tank in the 40-50 gallon range.

I have to warn you, your Chinese Algae Eaters aren't suitable for a 5 or 10 gallon tank either; they can grow up to a foot long as adults. You'll need to consider rehoming them or getting a larger tank.

For small tanks like yours, it's best to look at fish that stay small, no more than two inches as adults.

[sandman]

Thanks for the heads up. I kinda figured the CAE were gonna be a problem, they're already getting huge. I mean, I was told they were regular algae eaters, not Chinese Algae Eaters, so I didn't know any better. It wasn't till my friend came over and saw them after we moved the 10g tank that he told me what they really were. He said they're basically trash fish and I should get rid of them, but I just couldn't do it. I ended up just moving them to the 5g tank instead.

[wingbeat]

I totally get where your buddy's coming from with those CAE. They're notorious for losing their appetite for algae as they mature, and instead, they develop this nasty habit of sucking the slime coat off other fish, leaving them vulnerable to injuries and infections. But, I gotta say, flushing them down the drain isn't the answer - it's just plain cruel. I mean, they can't help how they're wired, right? So, kudos to you for showing some compassion and giving them a second chance.

In the short term, you're gonna need to do some serious damage control - I'm talking big, frequent water changes to keep them healthy and prevent stunted growth. But, let's be real, they need a bigger tank, and they need it ASAP. You can't keep them in that tiny 5-gallon tank forever, it's just not fair to them.

[sandman]

Thanks for the advice. I'll probably end up donating the CAE to my local fish store or see if they'll take them in. If I were to keep them, I'm curious - what would be their ideal fluffnut, I mean diet, consist of?

[wingbeat]

For the CAE's diet, I'd say a staple of catfish pellets would do the trick, and mixing it up with some prawns every now and then would be a nice treat for them. To keep them happy and healthy though, you'd be looking at a tank that's at least 4'x15"x15" - they need the space to grow and thrive.