|  |  | 
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Between a rock and a hard place
Will being in a 29 gal tank stunt the growth of Parrot Cichlids?
I would normally never consider this, but there are frequent altercations between our dominant CAE (Freddy) and our Parrots. Whenever they enter Freddy's territory he chases and attacks them.  I'm worried that he will damage their slime coat with his sucker and kill them.
One possible solution is to move all of our livebearers to the 55 gal and then put the parrots in the 29. We know Freddy has no issues with fish like platy's.
We still have like 2 days left to take the Parrots back to Petsmart if it comes to that....what do you guys think? is that the best solution? Would being in a 29 gal and well cared for be worse than being in a store?
Euthanasia of the CAE is NOT an option. Just thought I'd throw that out there. There's no way I could kill one of my pets if it wasn't suffering. Especially when all he's doing is exercising his natural instincts.
I only know 1 other fishkeeper, but I'm not sure he wants a CAE. Perhaps I could call him. | 
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| How big is the CAE? | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| About 4.5 inches | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| will there be other fish in there? and how many br? | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Bothers parrots w/ that much/little? muscles? lol!
I figure CAE will be dine dine for parrots! Odd? | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| br's mouth cant fit much more than a neon tetra...they cant even bite things as the deformities of their mouth shape and jaw wont allow it..cute fellas, sometimes pushy, but cant do any damage to much | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Fish dont have to have a large mouth to be a predator/carnivorous. Cichid id a Cichlid, can ripped others smaller/larger fish apart when opportunity knocks. D. must have very passive Parrots. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Yeah, we kinda got them so if the CAE bothered them they would push back without really causing any damage, but all they do is cower and run. Freddy may not be causing any harm...I just have no way of knowing. The parrots are only about 3.5 inches right now.
2 Parrots would be the only fish in the 29. Maybe a pair of cories too. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Freddy must be extraordinary tough cookie, maybe took after the keeper? LOL!
I know CAE can be somewhat nuisance on large body/surface fish but never would have guessed CAE chasing parrots!
I do know that Pirahnna is somewhat coward by itself, only strong in numbers, well at least during feeding frenzy! | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Oh Freddy is an extraordinarily tough cookie indeed. When he was a baby about 1 inch long he lived through our first cycle.
Also a note, he doesn't CHASE them per se, he only really follows them until they're out of his territory. Freddy will chase our other CAE (Buddy) around the whole tank, but he only bothers the parrots as long as they're in the last 10 or so inches of the tank. He never attaches to Buddy though...but he will attach to the Parrots. It's interesting to see how they treat different fish.
Last edited by dancerhas; February 27th, 2009 at 12:56 PM.
| |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by cerianthus  Fish dont have to have a large mouth to be a predator/carnivorous. Cichid id a Cichlid, can ripped others smaller/larger fish apart when opportunity knocks. D. must have very passive Parrots. | there is NO WAY a parrot can rip appart a 4 inch fish..unless its already dead and not moving, it could eat pieces off it...no way can it kill it on its own..their mouth and jawline just isnt capable of it.... | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| A parrots ability to rip apart another fish is really not the issue here. Regardless of whether they can, they are not being aggressive at all. The crux of the issue lies in the first line of the OP.  | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by dancerhas A parrots ability to rip apart another fish is really not the issue here. Regardless of whether they can, they are not being aggressive at all. The crux of the issue lies in the first line of the OP. | which is why I asked "will there be other fish in there? and how many br?"
sorry to get off topic..I wasnt sure how many you had now and depending on what other fish are in the 29 gal, and how many br's you have, will depend on if they can go into the 29 gal....they are big waste producers and thats why I asked 
I was just replying to other comments on this thread, that br's , although could be fish that are territorial and chase other fish, they cant eat much as their jawlines and mouths dont open enough to do so...
sorry
EDIT: 2 br's and your cories should be fine in the 29 gal | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| It's cool, I understand it wasn't malicious.
In case you missed it, I answered your question above... Quote: |
2 Parrots would be the only fish in the 29. Maybe a pair of cories too.
| | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by dancerhas It's cool, I understand it wasn't malicious.
In case you missed it, I answered your question above... | I edited my post as I did miss it...brunette moment | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Rather than corys, how about other larger cats such as common angel cats , drfitwood cats, Mystus cats, armoured cats, Hoplo Cats, Acanthodoras Sp (talking, croaking) Cats, etc.
If have good deco (drfitwoods, rock) look into fossilis cats (always love these cats) or Chaca Chaca.
As soon as parrots were avail , tried tons, not just few, of parrots with other breeders to tempt. From my experiences, although timid, but still cichlids. Of course this is before I took a stand against artificially, genetically altered fish (especially jelly beans) not that you shouldnt have parrot. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| personally i wouldn't risk it, if you still have the opportunity to take the BR parrots back then IMO that would be your best option. if you decide to keep them in the 29, then make sure that you have really, really excellent filtration, i'd go for a HOB rated for a 55 if you can. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| We usually use 2 filters if we think we're overstocked at all. The regular filter, and the QT filter. We would also add some live Anacharis plants to help keep Nitrates down. We also do 2-25% water changes weekly (sunday and wednesday) if we're overstocked on anything.
What I'm really concerned about is the tank size stunting their growth as their max size is 7 inches. I'm worried about taking them back because our Petsmart doesn't take very good care of their fish...plus we've already named them...it would break Heidi's heart to have to send them anywhere but the best home.
I have one other idea. We may try to get a 55 gal tank, filter, and a heater used for cheap, and then swap it for the 29gal, and sell the 29. Then put Freddy and Buddy in there with the Platy's and leave the parrots and cories in the 55. We really don't have money for that route though.
Thanks for all the replies. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| you can check out monsterfish.com, i know that there are a lot of people on there who have huge fish tanks and take in lots of fish, i think shawnie may have re-homed her two oscars to someone on there? correct me if i'm wrong though, i can't remember | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Moderator
| As much as I love the BR's and I do.. I have to agree with Agabr on this one. I know that you have been having problems with the BRs with them hiding all the time which really should not be the case with them.  If you still have the chance to return the BRs thats what I would do. Then you dont have to worry if the 29g is going to be big enough for two. I also think since yours are so very shy that the 29 is going to make them feel even more insecure.
Also a note on the BRs which are different than the true Cichlid Parrot btw.. they only suck in food as their mouths cannot close, they dont bite.
The true and unmutated Parrot Cichlid, Hoplarchus Psittacus see link below. http://www.cichlidae.com/article.php?id=67
Last edited by capekate; February 27th, 2009 at 03:54 PM.
| |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| I would rather keep them even in 29G until bigger tank is possible than back to LFS. You will most likely do better job taking care of them. | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| As 8 in. adults, I don't think it'd be fair to keep them in a 29 gal.
Is there another LFS that you can take them to? Maybe for store credit? | |
| | |
February 27th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Size does seem to crimp their swimming style in too small a tank. in 1971 my 8 inch Oscars would flash their turns at each end of my 25 gal show tank. At the time being a kid I thought they were doing tricks but now I know better. Hopefully you'll find home before you have that problem. Just advertise there is always a fish rescuer in every town we have one lady here that is well known by our LFS that rescues any and all fish. | |
| | |
February 28th, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanda As 8 in. adults, I don't think it'd be fair to keep them in a 29 gal.
Is there another LFS that you can take them to? Maybe for store credit? | There is another store that I've been told takes lots of fish, but their conditions are ten times worse than Petsmart. Absolutely horrific.
We're going to sleep on this tonight. It's a tough decision to make, but the longer we delay the more chance of one of the parrots getting hurt. Who knows how much bickering goes on at night while we're not around. | |
| | |
March 1st, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| Here's what we're going to do:
We moved Freddy back to the 29 gal last night. He's going to stay there for a couple days until we get some extra money. Then we're going to purchase another 55, switch it with the 29, and make it specifically the home of the CAE's. All the other fish will be going in the blue 55 with the parrots. We may eventually get a school of Tiger Barbs for the CAE's tank. | |
| | |
March 1st, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| That sounds like a good idea! | |
| | |
March 1st, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| a very expensive idea... | |
| | |
March 1st, 2009
|
| | Fish Master
| Try craiglist.com | |
| | |
March 1st, 2009
|
| | Fish Keeper
| already did...they have nothing | |
| | | |
Similar Aquarium Fish Forum Threads 
