Yellow Parrot

fish description – Yellow Parrot Cichlid Care Guide ($Cichlasoma\ sp.$ Hybrid)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	Cichlasoma\ sp. Hybrid (‘Yellow’ Strain)
Common Name	Yellow Blood Parrot Cichlid, Yellow Parrot Fish
Origin	Man-made hybrid (Central American Cichlids)
Adult Size	8–10 inches (20–25 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful for a cichlid, but may be shy; territorial when spawning
Lifespan	10–15 years
Care Level	Intermediate (due to size, waste, and specialized feeding)

Export to Sheets

---

 

Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A heavy, disk-shaped body with a round head and a small, often downward-pointing, beak-like mouth that only opens partially. The body is typically a vibrant solid yellow or pale gold. Juveniles may display dark stress spots that fade with age.
• Coloration: Varies from bright yellow to pale gold. The color can be maintained by feeding foods rich in carotenoids. Sexing is very difficult; males are usually slightly larger than females, who will become noticeably rounder when gravid.
• Fins: Proportional. They are easily recognized by their unique, partially open mouth structure, which leaves them unable to fight effectively.
• Behavior: Surprisingly peaceful, though they may dig or exhibit territoriality around caves. They are not strong swimmers and their mouth makes them slow and inefficient eaters compared to other cichlids.

---

 

Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (208 liters) is the minimum for one fish. Add 10–20 gallons for each additional Yellow Parrot. A large tank is crucial due to their size and high waste production.
• Schooling: Best kept singly (as a centerpiece) 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 will result in loss of color and a weakened 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 the high nitrate levels they produce. Water flow should be gentle.
• Aquascape: Requires a fine sand or smooth gravel substrate for digging. Provide large caves, driftwood, and clay pots for hiding. Hardy plants are suitable as they rarely destroy them due to their small mouths. Maintain dim lighting or provide shaded areas.

---

 

Diet and Feeding

 

The Yellow Parrot Cichlid is an omnivore, but its deformed mouth requires easy-to-swallow food.

• Staple Diet: High-quality sinking pellets formulated specifically for Blood Parrot Cichlids (often mini- or small-sized) and rich in color enhancers. Sinking food is preferred as they struggle to feed from the surface.
• Supplementation: A varied diet is essential. Offer frozen or live foods (like Bloodworms and Brine Shrimp) regularly. Blanched vegetables (shelled peas, zucchini) should be offered for fiber to prevent swim bladder issues.
• Schedule: Feed small portions twice a day. They must carefully line up their body to “scoop” food in, so ensure they are successfully eating and are not out-competed by faster fish.

---

 

Compatibility

 

• Caution: They are vulnerable to aggression and should never be kept with aggressive or fast, boisterous fish that will outcompete them for food or bully them.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful, medium-to-large fish that can handle their size but are not aggressive. Examples include Larger Tetras (Congo, Black Skirt), Rainbowfish, Gouramis, and large Catfish (e.g., Synodontis, Plecos).