Parrot Freakin Out - I'm freakin out

[cjmarshall925]

My Blood Parrot has all of a sudden become VERY aggressive and is chasing the Tetras out of her corner where she (?) acts like she's protecting something. When she's not chasing them away, she pretty much stays on the bottom the the tank.

I've put these fish through a lot of stress over the last weeks, but now my water is stable - except I had to do a dose of Quick Cure for some Ich (I think was brought in on some Red Tail Sharks - that didn't survive). Did the 3-day treatment & I thought I had it beat, but then today (about 4 days after the last treatment) the tetras, rather than swimming about, were just twitching pretty much in 1 place, and Goldie starts loosing some of her color again (after completely perking up and doing fine the last couple of days). So about an hour after the Quick Cure dose tonight, the tetras start swimming again and acting more "normal". But Goldie is still freaking out.

BTW - I just added the Choc Pecto (Wonka) yesterday. Wonka is still pretty much just hiding, but Goldie has even been trying to get to him where he's hiding - to no avail. Then she goes back to her corner and stays pretty much on the bottom.

What am I doing wrong?

[jm1212]

what size is your tank?

[cjmarshall925]

75 gallon
2 filters, Ehim cannister and HOB Magnum 400

[jm1212]

look around where she is "protecting". female blood parrots sometimes lay eggs

[cjmarshall925]

What would they look like? The gravel is a light brown sort of speckled.... I can't really see much where it is. I vaccumed the gravel night before last - I breifly wondered about that (eggs) when she was attacking the vaccum tube.

[cjmarshall925]

Check that last response - I CAN see the eggs. OMG! So what will happen now? They can't be fertile, right? How long will she protect them?

[aardvark1]

Doubt if they would be viable...

Parrots for the most part are sterile (well, the males are) due to them being hybrids (like a Mule).

Eggs will most likely go white then will get eaten....

[jm1212]

they will die and turn white, and then the other fish will eat them. everything will go back to normal for a while, and then chances are she may spawn again and the cycle will continue.

[cjmarshall925]

Ok - so the eggs are already white. Any idea how long she's going to stay aggressive? Will she eat them - or the other fish? What will happen if I vaccum the tank?
Also - I'm guessing it's not a good idea to introduce any other fish for the time being?

How often does this happen?

[jm1212]

they will msot likley all eat them

as for the spawnings- it depends on the fish. some spawn like clockwork others spawn every now and again

wiat until the eggs are gone and shes back to her old self and then you can add some new fish

[cjmarshall925]

Wow - who knew that fish get *****y when they're pregnant, too?!?!?! Glad my 2 were worth keeping!

Fishkeeping is gonna be more um.... interesting - (yeah, that's it!) than I ever expected...... Thanks for the info!

[jm1212]

thats what im here for