What is the difference between king kong parrot fish and common parrot fish?
Generally, distinguishing king kong parrot fish from common parrot fish mainly depends on the shape of the head and back. In common parrot fish, when viewed from directly above the eyes, the junction of the head and back is usually sunken, while in king kong parrot fish it is raised, and adult king kong parrot fish generally develop a pronounced head hump. Let us take a look below at the differences between king kong parrot fish and parrot fish!
King kong parrot fish
The king kong parrot fish is a variant of the blood parrot fish. It has a fleshy hump on top of its head, its body color is bright red, and its body length is also longer than that of the blood parrot fish, reaching up to more than 30 cm, with a lifespan of about 8 years.
Common parrot fish
The common parrot fish, commonly known as the parrot cichlid, parrotfish, red wedge cichlid, etc., is a tropical fish that lives in coral reefs. It is named for its brilliant colors and its mouth shape that closely resembles a parrot's beak. It has beautiful and varied colors on its body, just like the colorful coat of a parrot, and is a fish with high ornamental value. Its body shape is approximately spherical or oval, with a rounded back and well-developed caudal fin, and its whole body is almost blood red. It has a cute triangular mouth that always looks as if it is smiling with its mouth open, which is why it is deeply loved by fish enthusiasts.
The difference between king kong parrot fish and common parrot fish
1. Mouth shape: common parrot fish generally have a T-shape, crescent shape, or triangle shape, and cannot close completely, while king kong parrot fish have a normal straight-line mouth shape. However, this cannot be used as the only standard for distinguishing the two types of parrot fish, because many junk parrot fish similar to red devil fish also have a straight-line mouth.
2. Head and back: look at the shape of the head and back. In common parrot fish, when viewed from directly above the eyes, the junction of the head and back is generally sunken, in yuanbao parrot fish it is a smooth arc, while in king kong parrot fish it is raised, and adult king kong parrot fish generally develop a pronounced head hump.
3. Body shape: standard blood parrot fish have a short and round body, while king kong parrot fish are slightly longer and flatter.
4. Size: ordinary blood parrot fish are generally 15-20 cm, while king kong parrot fish can reach more than 25 cm, with a weight of up to 1 kg, and they also grow faster than blood parrot fish.
5. Temperament: king kong parrot fish are fiercer and more combative than common parrot fish, though this is somewhat alleviated when multiple fish are kept together in a large tank.
6. Parent stock: the male parent of the king kong parrot fish is the redhead cichlid, and the female parent is the red devil fish. The male parent of the blood parrot fish is the red devil fish, and the female parent is the redhead cichlid.