What to Do If Your Parrot Cichlid Turns White? Cause Analysis and Solutions

The parrot cichlid is a feng shui fish that many people keep at home, and it is believed to bring good fortune. However, care must be taken during keeping, as parrot cichlids turning white is a fairly common occurrence, and if handled improperly it can very likely lead to the death of the fish. Let us quickly look at the causes of parrot cichlids turning white and the solutions:

Why Do Parrot Cichlids Turn White?

Normally, the body color of a parrot cichlid is red all over. However, some fish keepers find that after keeping their parrot cichlid at home for a period of time, its color fades, gradually fading to white or turning black. What exactly is the reason for this? Today let us explore this together!

1. Injected pigment: When it was at the fish seller's place, it was injected with pigment; after bringing it home the pigment gradually disappears, so the parrot cichlid slowly turns white.

2. Feed: Parrot cichlids only turn red from a young age by eating feed with added canthaxanthin. It may be a problem with your feed; you need to buy feed with a red-enhancing effect to feed them, otherwise their color will slowly turn white.

3. Environment: When a parrot cichlid first arrives in a new environment, its color will turn white for a period of time; once they have all adapted, it will gradually return.

4. Water quality: During the first 2 to 4 hours after a water change, the parrot cichlid's color will become lighter, but it will soon return to red. Likewise, if no new water is added for more than 4 days, in an environment where water quality deteriorates, the parrot cichlid will also turn white. So generally, change the water once every 2 to 3 days, changing one third or one quarter at a time. Keeping the water fresh can ensure the parrot cichlid does not fade.

5. Fish disease: If the parrot cichlid contracts white spot disease, it may cause fading of the color in certain areas, or even turn white.

6. Temperature: Although parrot cichlids are highly adaptable to temperature, they are in fact quite sensitive to temperature. Under low water temperature and drastic fluctuations in water temperature, their color will also turn white.

7. Fright: After being startled, the red parrot cichlid will show fading.

What to Do If Your Parrot Cichlid Turns White?

Above, we have explained why parrot cichlids turn white, but if a parrot cichlid has already turned white, are there any remedies? Don't worry, below we will continue to explain the remedies for parrot cichlids turning white.

1. If it is merely a pigment problem, you can buy some feed with a red-enhancing effect and feed it.

2. Add coarse salt, add sulfamethoxazole, and some friends have also treated with penicillin, which is said to work well.

3. A whitened parrot cichlid does not need to be kept separately, because the other fish are already infected, only their constitutions differ. Do not change the water; only top up the water that has naturally evaporated, and the water added should be slightly warmer than that in the tank.

4. Raise the water temperature to 30, do not stop the oxygen pump, and stop feeding.

5. Promptly go to the place where you bought the fish to ask for advice and find a method; do not delay.

Alright, we have told everyone about parrot cichlids turning white and the remedies after they turn white. Of course, the most popular among parrot cichlids is still the blood parrot; its whole body is red, very beautiful, and it has the feng shui effect of bringing wealth. If a parrot cichlid turns white, its ornamental value is greatly reduced, and its wealth-bringing effect is no longer obvious either, so everyone keeping parrot cichlids should pay attention to observation and care.