Polar Blue Parrot Cichlids - agression

Hi,

I recently purchased 2 baby polar blue parrot cichlids about 1-1.5 inches long. In the week I have had them they have been doing great and eating well. I have noticed amongst them, the slightly bigger one picks on the other one and chases it often. My other BP leave the new babies alone and are not aggressive to them.

Would adding a 3rd baby polar blue parrot cichlid help curve the aggression towards each other.

My tank is 75 gallon cycled for over a year with canister filters and temperature stays at 79 degrees.

 

They're a parrot x convict, so the aggression is no surprise, I'm not a cichlid expert by any means but more sight breaks would definitely help, and maybe adding some more if your filtration and tank size can handle it.

 

I cant upgrade to a bigger tank the the 75 gallon, but as they grow up I can definitely upgrade the filter to a bigger capacity

If you suggest adding more to help with aggression, how many more baby polar blue parrot cichlids should I add?

 

Thatd be a question for the cichlid experts, I haven't a clue lol.

 

Lol no worries. Thanks ill wait to hear from some experts.

 

I work with and own all kinds of cichlids. While the polars are some of the most people friendly fish I’ve ever encountered, they can be dicks to each other. Parrots love long plants and brush so I’d defiantly add more of those into your tank. They also love caves so maybe think about adding some clay pots or holey rock. The more hiding places the better.
And yes, adding another polar can help chill the other two out. I highly recommend removing the original two, adding more decorations, then letting the new one and shy one swim around the new decor first. After 15-20 minutes, I’d add in the more dominate one.

 

Thanks! I did end up getting more polar blues and added 2 albino parrots (even smaller than the polar blues). I did rehome my 4 african cichlids as the baby parrots didnt come out as much with them in there even though they werent too aggressive.

Most of them had a part of their tails nipped since I added them in but Im not sure if it was the african cichlids or not. The African cichlids were rehomed a week ago and most of their tails are getting better so hoping the tail nips was not amongst the polar blues.

I do still see some aggression but I guess its part of them being cichlids but by adding more in there the aggression is split across them and there isnt one being picked on the most.

They have grown alot since I got them, actually caught one of the polar blues nipping my blood parrot and then ran before my BP turned towards him lol

I have been slowly adding more decorations for them to hidein.

 

Thanks! I did end up getting more polar blues and added 2 albino parrots (even smaller than the polar blues). I did rehome my 4 african cichlids as the baby parrots didnt come out as much with them in there even though they werent too aggressive.

Most of them had a part of their tails nipped since I added them in but Im not sure if it was the african cichlids or not. The African cichlids were rehomed a week ago and most of their tails are getting better so hoping the tail nips was not amongst the polar blues.

I do still see some aggression but I guess its part of them being cichlids but by adding more in there the aggression is split across them and there isnt one being picked on the most.

They have grown alot since I got them, actually caught one of the polar blues nipping my blood parrot and then ran before my BP turned towards him lol

I have been slowly adding more decorations for them to hidein.

They get a nice growth spurt about this age but once that’s over, they are slow growers. A good tankmate for them are actually frontosia cichlids. Yes, frontosia get fairly large, however, they’re also slow growers and super peaceful. You’ll almost always have someone with nipped fins because of the nature of these fish. What you’re seeing is totally normal so don’t freak out. If you want to help them heal a little faster, some aquarium salt with some API melafix works great.