Parrot fish is one of the most beautiful goldfish in the world, its color is usually reddish orange. This fish is not found naturally in nature as it is a mutation of many fish. We can say that the parrot fish is a hybrid made up of the union of several species which gives it specific characteristics.
The pigmentation of the skin and its color can vary; a type of hormone is injected giving it yellow and greenish tones. Its fins are placed that in many occasions gives a heart shape to its body that is rounded. Its head is protruding with slightly large eyes and a slightly deformed mouth in the shape of a parrot’s beak, which cannot be closed.
This causes much prey to escape, although this fish eats both seedlings and small fish. In addition, it is so adapted that it is easily fed with special industrial prepared food for fish in flakes. Its scientific name is the Red Parrot. This fish is not a very fertile fish. In order to reproduce, you have to get a good male; since the females are almost always fertile and the eggs can be fertilized with different species in hatcheries.
Due to their deformities, these fish have problems covering their gills and cause many infections; also, he has many problems with the retinas of his eyes. This fish is very territorial but not aggressive, it can last its life cycle from 10 to 15 years reaching a maximum size of 12 and a half inches.
They are special fish, marketed to adorn aquariums, being a fish that can socialize with other species. It is important to have some medications on hand that are applied to the aquarium in drops since this fish tends to get very sick. This is due to their deformities throughout their body and in their gills and eyes, where they are especially affected by infections and fungi; so you have to take care of them properly.
Instructions
Next we will give you several reminders for the care of the Loreto fish:
- These are fish that are bred and bred in aquariums all over the world, as they are hybrid fish.
- Males are almost always sterile because of their deformities, but not all are born that way.
- The first thing you have to take into account is that these fish need 80 liters of water and if it is a couple, 160 liters.
- For this it is very important to have a good base of metal plates with 90 degree angles.
- With this and a good blacksmith, you will take the necessary measures to make the base in the strongest way and with a good weld.
- Since on many occasions they do not weld it well and one of the bases of the aquarium breaks, causing an accident.
- The other thing is that the base material is the heaviest and thickest, to be able to support the weight of the water and the accessories.
- Then you must place sheets of glass about 5 to 8 millimeters thick.
- With these sheets you must be very careful, since this is the most dangerous and delicate part of the construction of the aquarium.
- You have to take measurements of the metal quadrant that you made with the metal beam bases.
- Then, with a ruler, mark the glass sheets with an indelible ink marker.
- Place the sheets on a large table that is lined with a rug and is completely flat.
- Take the ruler and the glass cutter, and start making the cuts in the glass according to the measurements taken.
- You place the faces of the glasses with each other and hold them with a sticky tape.
- Take the transparent silicone pot and start sealing all the internal and external angles of the aquarium.
- Wait at least 8 hours for this silicone to dry and harden so that the water does not escape.
- Place in the aquarium after 8 hours on the base that you made with the blacksmith.
- Pour water little by little and check that it does not have any type of water leak at any angle or edge.
- If you have a water leak, identify the places and mark them with the marker in the different leaks.
- Remove the water very carefully and in the areas where you got the leak, dry it well and add more transparent silicone.
- Make sure that the cloth with which you dried the affected part is free of grease and that the place is not greasy.
- Since if it is greasy, the silicone will not stick well to the glass surface; in these cases you can use alcohol
- Alcohol is very good for removing grease and cleaning glass. With a dry cloth it is ready to paste the silicone.
- Add the water after 8 more hours and check that not a single drop of water is thrown away.
- Add an inch of fine gravel to the bottom of your aquarium so the plants you plant can grow roots.
- It is important to decide the location that the aquarium is going to have at home or at work since you have to take maintenance into account.
- For example, if it is in a very dark place, you will need to have good lighting.
- And if it is in a place that receives sunlight all day, this will also affect it, since we have to maintain an optimal temperature.
- Parrotfish need to maintain a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius; and that is why the aquarium must have its thermometer.
- Also a water heater, as temperatures sometimes drop too low causing damage to the fish.
- It is important that you place some marine or water plants inside the aquarium since these will help you regulate the pH of the water.
- These plants need light, either natural or artificial, so that they can stay alive.
- On the other hand, you will need an air pump to oxygenate the water in your aquarium and to place filters.
- Filters are of the utmost importance as they retain organic waste from the fish.
- And they prevent the water from becoming contaminated and keep it transparent so that we can better observe our fish.
- It is recommended that you place 3 or 4 filters in the aquarium and that you replace the filtering felt weekly.
- Also, it is important that you put a mesh on top to prevent the fish from jumping and falling out of the water.
- Parrot fish produce a lot of waste because it is a fish that eats a lot and several times a day.
- On the other hand, already having the aquarium assembled, we proceed to decorate it; placing dry logs or large sea stones.
- Some people also place plastic plants as decorations and figures of sunken ships.
- In short, the decoration is already part of your creativity and tastes to make it as you prefer.
What do you need:
- 90 degree heavy iron plates.
- Sheets of glass 5 to 8 centimeters thick.
- Large transparent silicone.
- Cut glass.
- Carpet-covered tables.
- Duct tape.
- Aquarium gravel.
- Aquarium air pump.
- Water filters for aquariums.
- Light lamps for aquariums.
- Aquarium thermometer.
- Aquarium water heater.
- Plastic and natural plants.
- Parrot fish.
- Large sea stones.
- Ornaments for aquariums.
- Medicinal products for aquariums.
- Anti-chlorine for aquariums.
- Methylene blue for aquariums.
Tips
Here are some practical tips:
- We recommend doing maintenance at least once a month taking into account the color of the water.
- This means that if before a month the water is very dirty or cloudy you should disassemble it and wash it.
- For this you must have a large container with the water pump connected so that you can take out the fish.
- This is so that the fish are in the oxygenated water while you are washing the aquarium.
- Take out the fish very carefully so that you do not mistreat or hit them when moving the site.
- For this, it uses a tool that is like a strainer but made of very soft cloth, to catch the fish.
- Then, remove all the water from the aquarium little by little so that you do not damage any of the decoration.
- Next, take out the thermometer and water filters to replace the felts and wash the filters.
- Finally, remove the gravel and the plants that you have at the bottom of the aquarium, the gravel must be washed or replaced.
- To wash the walls of the aquarium you must do it with water and special soap for aquariums.
- This is because there are soaps that contain many chemicals such as ammonia.
- This if they remain inside the aquarium can cause the death of all the fish.
- Therefore only use aquarium soap and a soft foam sponge to avoid scratching the aquarium glass.
- After the surface is completely clean, you must place all the elements and decorations of the previously cleaned aquarium.
- Fill it with tap water little by little, to avoid damaging anything or ornaments in the aquarium.
- Later you will add a few drops of anti-chlorine; generally, it is one drop per liter of water.
- This should be left standing for 24 hours to completely remove the chlorine that the tap water brings.
- The chlorine added by companies to make this water drinkable for humans kills fish.
- After 24 hours of standing the water with the anti-chlorine, check the temperature of the water.
- If the temperature is 27 degrees Celsius, then you can safely add the fish very gently.
- Remember that you should not hit the fish. You have to be careful that they don’t jump and fall to the floor.
- If you drop them on the floor, you should pick them up immediately with your hands and place them very gently in the aquarium.
- Remember to put the mesh cover on it to prevent them from jumping out of the aquarium. Also, you must place the light lamp.
- After your parrot fish are in the aquarium with clean water and the entire aquarium clean, visualize each fish well and in detail, since the water is a little cloudy and dirty before washing it, you might not notice some health problems that afflict these fish, which are very delicate in health.
- On some occasions, we can notice that things like white cotton come out of their fins.
- This is a white fungus that reproduces throughout their body until it kills them.
- To combat these conditions, it is important to add a few drops of aquarium methylene blue to these aquariums.
- In the container according to the brand, it tells you if they are 2 or 1 drop per liter of water to combat this type of fungus and other conditions.
- For this reason, sometimes we notice that the water in the aquariums looks a little bluish; this is while this treatment is in progress.
- They also sell some drops that are antibiotics, in case one fish bites another and breaks it.
- A couple of drops are added for several days and this fish will heal without any problem or complication.
