Black cooloration developing on my Blood Parrot

•RuBeN• · 10-01-2011, 03:51 PM

My blood parrot, Ricky, has started developing a black coloration. It doesn't look like black spot disease, well from the pictures I saw, but I am not sure what it is. Any thoughts? I have had the tank set up for about a month and he didn't have the black color before today. You can see a picture attached. My other BP, Lucy, doesn't really eat and isn't really active. She is bullied by my firemouth, Gus, but all the fish are. She is the only one that doesn't eat/swim very much. Is there anything I can do to change this? Both BP's stay to themselves, Ricky hides in a tree and Lucy in a fake plant all the time and when they are out they hide as soon as I approach the tank. Any info is welcome.

Thanks,

-Ruben

Vic · 10-02-2011, 08:58 AM

I have a GBR and Bolivian ram that were doing fine until I added a couple young mixed cichlids. They would both get almost solid black, I think it was stress so I took the new ones out and they are better. unfortunately they don't seem to get along as well as they did, and the bolivian still turned but not as much. I rearranged the tank so they could establish new territories and they're much better.

Personally, I would move the one that is being mean before you start loosing fish. But I am very new with cichlids and have mine because someone could no longer keep them.

I've also read water quality can make them turn, being stressed from that.

HTH, there isn't much on the internet that I found.

Vic

sivakv · 10-02-2011, 09:34 AM

I do have similar experience.

My Archer used to turn black(actually he can change color drop of a hat), then i found it was american flag that was very closely tagging him. Some reason i lost the american flag, it was very active and suddenly found him dead. Occassionally, i now find, archer turning silver white. Somewhere i read turning black could indicate stress, and not sure whether turning white indicates he is very happy ? Otherwise he is fine.

•RuBeN• · 10-02-2011, 08:33 PM

The black scales are getting darker...check out the pics. Any other thoughts

snail · 10-04-2011, 04:33 AM

It kind of looks like natural coloration to me, some fish change color or develop marks as they get older.

snail · 10-04-2011, 04:37 AM

This might help:
Cichlid Research Home Page: Parrot Cichlids

Quote:

As mentioned, they come in a variety of colors. Many people find that their blood parrots change colors as they get older. The orange color may change from a solid color to a blotchy pattern or it may lighten or darken substantially. This is not all that surprising when you consider the parent species, namely the midas or red devil. Both of these species can and do change colors substantially as they mature.

10-02-2011, 08:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
Vic Vic's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 45 Name: Vicky Langdon My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Black cooloration developing on my Blood Parrot I have a GBR and Bolivian ram that were doing fine until I added a couple young mixed cichlids. They would both get almost solid black, I think it was stress so I took the new ones out and they are better. unfortunately they don't seem to get along as well as they did, and the bolivian still turned but not as much. I rearranged the tank so they could establish new territories and they're much better. Personally, I would move the one that is being mean before you start loosing fish. But I am very new with cichlids and have mine because someone could no longer keep them. I've also read water quality can make them turn, being stressed from that. HTH, there isn't much on the internet that I found. Vic __________________ It all started with a 20 cent goldfish.....

10-02-2011, 09:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
sivakv sivakv's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 60 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 19 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Black cooloration developing on my Blood Parrot I do have similar experience. My Archer used to turn black(actually he can change color drop of a hat), then i found it was american flag that was very closely tagging him. Some reason i lost the american flag, it was very active and suddenly found him dead. Occassionally, i now find, archer turning silver white. Somewhere i read turning black could indicate stress, and not sure whether turning white indicates he is very happy ? Otherwise he is fine.

10-04-2011, 04:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
snail snail's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2,648 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 2,935 Times Said "Thanks" 364 Times Was Thanked 636 Times in 593 Posts	Re: Black cooloration developing on my Blood Parrot It kind of looks like natural coloration to me, some fish change color or develop marks as they get older.

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