How to Keep Mini Parrot Fish? Detailed Breeding Conditions
The mini parrot fish actually belongs to the freshwater tropical fish. It is, so far, the smallest parrot fish that has been artificially bred. So for such a small parrot fish, what should we pay attention to when it comes to keeping it? How many varieties of this small parrot fish are there? Next I will answer these questions one by one for everyone.
How to Keep Mini Parrot Fish
1. Parrot fish are naturally fond of freedom, so a medium-to-large fish tank should be chosen for keeping parrot fish. Parrot fish are not a schooling fish, so when keeping them, the density of fish should not be too high; keeping it within twenty fish is enough. Also, do not keep parrot fish together with fish smaller than them, as fighting can easily occur.
2. Parrot fish belong to the tropical fish category and do not like low-temperature environments, so the water temperature for keeping parrot fish should be maintained between 25 degrees and 30 degrees. When the temperature drops in winter, use equipment such as a thermostat heater to warm the water in the tank in time, and do not let the parrot fish freeze.
3. Parrot fish are a greedy fish that can eat almost anything, and they have a large appetite. So owners should feed them three times a day at set times; you can prepare various small worms and small shrimp for them, and you can also pair these with fish feed. But be careful not to feed too much each time, lest the uneaten fish food pollutes the water quality and makes the parrot fish sick.
Breeding Conditions for Mini Parrot Fish
1. In their natural environment, parrot fish have already become accustomed to a vast space for activity, and what they adapt to least in an aquarium is this sense of pressure. Marine fish have a wide range of activity, which is the biggest difference from freshwater fish. According to different ecologies such as adhesive eggs and floating eggs, prepare a spawning site (a place for eggs to attach); the eggs need a place to attach, so stones or other substitutes must be placed in the aquarium.
2. Light is very important for fish breeding. For example, parrot fish mostly hatch at dusk, and they cannot hatch if the light is not turned off. Different fish have different light requirements, but at least the aquarium should be kept under direct sunlight for 2 hours to 3 hours every day. Water temperature is also very important for breeding; it is best to keep it at 26 °C to 28 °C. Salinity, pH, nitrite, dissolved oxygen and so on must all meet normal standards. Otherwise, if even the fish cannot grow well, how can they breed?
How to Tell Male from Female Mini Parrot Fish
1. The body color of the male parrot is relatively red, while the female's is slightly paler and also tends to turn white. The dorsal fin and anal fin of the male parrot fish are slightly pointed and long, and sometimes can exceed the tail fin. The female parrot fish generally does not exceed the tail fin. Clearly distinguishing male from female is helpful for parrot fish breeding.
2. Male parrot fish are more aggressive and have a slightly higher possibility of developing a head bump. Female parrot fish will also suddenly develop a head bump before spawning (not absolute). The genital pore area of the male parrot fish looks relatively smooth, with a very small protruding part. The genital pore area of the female parrot fish protrudes more and is clearly visible.
3. The abdomen of the male parrot fish is smooth, while that of the female parrot fish is slightly swollen, especially when approaching spawning. (This also depends on the variety; some parrot fish are naturally round in body shape and also very round in the abdomen, while some have a very long body shape, and even if female, the abdomen is not round, so comparisons should be made within the same variety.)
Disease Prevention for Mini Parrot Fish
1. Pay attention that the water quality in the tank is not infected by outside water, tools, new fish, food and so on. That is: newly added water for water changes should be dried in the sun; water-holding utensils should be washed and disinfected often; newly arrived fish should go through water acclimation and disinfection; nets for catching fish and fish worms should be washed and disinfected often; and fish worms should be cleaned and disinfected.
2. In one sentence: take every possible measure to keep the water in the tank from being infected by foreign objects and foreign fish. Remember one key word: "dry"; after all tools are used, dry them as soon as possible, preferably by sun-drying. Dryness can make various pathogens die off, while moisture will breed pathogens. In addition, keep changing the water regularly so that the water itself does not breed pathogens.
When keeping them, if you put mini parrot fish together with other fish, the mini parrot fish will quarrel with the other fish in order to defend their territory from invasion, until they drive the other kinds of fish out of their territory. So this is not good for keeping mini parrot fish. Therefore, if you decide to keep mini parrot fish, you must keep them separately.