Peacocks & Parrots

[proverbs308]

I just bought another 55 gal tank and was thinking of putting cichlids in it, but I like the parrots but was not sure if they would live well with peacocks or other malawian cichlids. Can anyone give me advice?

[UCF-Planted]

Parrots are a hybrid central/south american cichlid, and are fairly calm from what I have seen and other comments here. African cichlids as a general-rule are tempermentally unsuitable to be kept together, YMMV. Can probably be done, but seldom recommended. Now somebody else please follow-up with a personal story of keeping parrots with peacocks in perfect harmony :)

[proverbs308]

Thank you, but if I may inquire once again what about parrots with discus? My wife really wants me to get parrots.

[UCF-Planted]

I don't know about that. I know parrots are too nice for africans, but may be too aggressive for discus. I'll let somebody else give an answer for that one.

[severum mama]

Absolutely not. Discus IME are very fragile, and if they are to be kept in a community, it must be a very peaceful mix. Parrots grow to be large, messy, and boisterous, and do well with semi aggressive fish. Discus are semi aggressive with conspecifics and do well in a very peaceful and laid-back community. Even the most peaceful parrot cichlid is not suited to this tank. Plus, discus appreciate very warm water- I keep my discus tank at 86-87 degrees. This is not suitable for parrot cichlids; a temp of 77-80 suits them much better.:)

[Nolapete]

Discus aren't really fragile, they are moreso passive. Parrots are not good tankmates for them.

[Rbishop]

Discus and parrots...? No.

Parrots and Africans...? No.

[jm1212]

africans would be to aggressive for parrots

parrots would be to aggressive for discus

discus and discus will work

[Daddys1jenn]

I bought a 120 gallon and it came with a pacu(that I got rid of)2 convicts and an parrot fish. I had to take the parrot out and put it in my community tank cause the convits were so mean to the parrot.

[jm1212]

breeding cons are nasty

[rosita]

Right now my 55g is overfull with a strange mix as I get my 125g all together. I have 2 parrots, around 3.5", several peacocks (4 4 females, 3 males, all grown), 3 sevs (2 are babies), 8" BGK, and some cories. The parrots actually hold their own, and will circle pre-lip locking with the OB peacock and the baby severums. Never fights, just the boys struttin' their stuff. It IS TEMPORARY, and I don't know that I would keep Africans with Parrots long term as they are more peaceful/quiet as has already been mentioned. They've been like this for two months now.

[Ruben Tolon]

I'd try introducing the wife to fish that have similar colors to the parrots, if that is the reason she likes them.

[proverbs308]

Its actually not their color but rather their face. She thinks they have a "cute" face.

[waymeans]

Rosita,

I've had Parrots for years in a community setting. They have stood up to Convicts, Jewels, Dempseys, Green Terror, mated with a bigger FlowerHorn. I think they will keep up with most their size, as long as they are not ferocious. They are usually bigger than the average African of 5-6 inches. Although I do not mix African and New World Cichlids.

Arnie

[waymeans]

Joel,

Unless you are ready to take care of more expensive and fragile Discuss who are bests alone or with safe and small acid loving fish like neon tetras, I would go with the Parrots that do well in a community take with medium size 5-6 inch and larger fish.

Their mouths are heart shaped and never close. They are spunky but not aggressive and will protect themselves from more aggressive ones. Neat.

Arnie

[cdfishie123]

my piano teacher has a 200 gallon tank with a majority of african, but there is also 2-5 tetras,3-5 gouramis, and 2 red finned catfish, 2 1foot plecos, some cories, and 2 parrots, half of the fish are full grown and the parrots seem to be doing very well.

[DeRo316]

If she just wants the color some of the zebra mbuna can come close. Red zebra comes to mind

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/image.php?id=1730&pic=1

[proverbs308]

I know I keep asking questions about tankmates but would the parrot be okay with my angels and rams? Right now I really like this tank and don't want to hurt its balance to much but from what I have read the parrots are lesser aggressive fish. If not with my angels would they be okay in my gourami tank? What are some good tankmates that people have had? Thanks everyone.

[Lupin]

I know I keep asking questions about tankmates but would the parrot be okay with my angels and rams? Right now I really like this tank and don't want to hurt its balance to much but from what I have read the parrots are lesser aggressive fish. If not with my angels would they be okay in my gourami tank? What are some good tankmates that people have had? Thanks everyone.
Simply no. Parrots are just like every other cichlids. Too unpredictable in the way they behave. Parrots are best kept with fish that can defend themselves but not in the community tanks.

[cdfishie123]

yeah i geuss you could keep them with rams and angels