Red Heart Parrot

 

fish description – Red Heart Parrot Cichlid Care Guide ($Cichlasoma\ sp.$ Hybrid ‘Heart’)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Cichlasoma\ sp.$ Hybrid (‘Heart’ Strain)
Common Name	Red Heart Parrot Cichlid, Heart-Shaped Parrot Fish
Origin	Man-made hybrid (Caudal Fin Altered)
Adult Size	8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful, can be shy; territorial when spawning
Lifespan	10–15 years (often shortened by stress/deformity)
Care Level	Intermediate to Advanced (due to extreme waste and health issues)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A heavy, round-bodied cichlid with a beak-like mouth and a severely truncated or deformed caudal fin, creating a “heart” shape when viewed from the rear. Its body is typically a vibrant red or orange color. This fish is prone to swim bladder issues and has reduced swimming efficiency.
• Coloration: Varies from deep red to bright orange. Color is maintained by carotenoid-rich foods. Sexing is very difficult; males are usually slightly larger than females, who will become noticeably rounder when gravid.
• Fins: The tail fin is artificially altered. The small, deformed mouth makes eating and defense extremely challenging.
• Behavior: Surprisingly peaceful, but shy. They are slow, inefficient swimmers and highly vulnerable to faster, more aggressive tank mates. They are high waste producers and are sensitive to poor water quality.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (208 liters) is the minimum for one fish. Add 20 gallons for each additional Heart Parrot. A large tank is crucial due to their size and high waste production.
• Schooling: Best kept singly or in a small group of 3 or more to discourage one fish from dominating another.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $76^\circ$–$80^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$27^\circ\mathrm{C})$. Lower temperatures can weaken the immune system.
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.5 to 7.8. They require heavy filtration (oversized canister filters are recommended) and regular, large water changes (e.g., 50% weekly) to control high nitrates. Water flow should be gentle to aid their impaired swimming.
• Aquascape: Requires a fine sand or smooth gravel substrate for digging. Provide ample caves, driftwood, and clay pots for hiding. Avoid sharp objects completely to prevent further injury to their already fragile bodies and fins. Maintain dim lighting or provide shaded areas.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Red Heart Parrot Cichlid is an omnivore, but its severe mouth and spine deformities require easy-to-swallow food.

• Staple Diet: High-quality sinking pellets formulated specifically for Blood Parrot Cichlids (small-sized) and rich in color enhancers. Sinking food is essential as they struggle to feed from the surface.
• Supplementation: Offer frozen or live foods (like Bloodworms and Brine Shrimp) regularly. Blanched vegetables (shelled peas, zucchini) should be offered for fiber to prevent common swim bladder issues.
• Schedule: Feed small portions twice a day. They are very slow eaters; watch closely to ensure they consume their food and are not out-competed.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Extremely vulnerable to aggression and bullying. Due to their deformed mouth, they cannot fight or defend themselves. Never keep with aggressive or fast, boisterous fish. They are prone to Ich and bacterial infections due to stress and genetic weaknesses.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful, slow-moving, medium-to-large fish that are not aggressive. Examples include Larger Tetras (Congo, Black Skirt), Rainbowfish, Gouramis, and large Catfish (e.g., Synodontis, Plecos).