Blood Parrot in need of a bodyguard!!!

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goalorientation

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This fish is being picked on by my albino oscar in the 50g tank. Within the first few minutes of being in the tank I observed the oscar take a big bite of the blood parrot's already worn stomach. The oscar is 4" and the BP is 3". There's a tiger oscar in there also that's 6+" but he minds his own business. The black shark, however, couldn't resist instigating and insisted on chasing them both around the tank. Will the BP recover and fit in? or should it go back to where it came from? (29g cichlid tank) As time passed parrot cichlid started to front the oscar and they went face to face. Will things cool down when they establish territory?
She (the bp) highly appreciates any feedback!
 
well, i have not owned any oscars, but i do have to large and healthy blood parrotts. I think you've got them in the wrong environment. those other larger more terretorial fish will probably not rest unless they are giving him grief. The BPs are afraid of their shadows, so sounds like the 29g is the place for them IMO.

Best of luck..
 
That's a territorial issue you're dealing with and it's probably not going to get better. The BP is an intruder- and your oscar will probably always view it as one.

It'd best to move the BP before he gets hurt.
 
can you move the oscars for a few weeks untill the parrot claims the tank as it's own?
I have had this work well for me.

Matt
 
DeFeKt said:
can you move the oscars for a few weeks untill the parrot claims the tank as it's own?
I have had this work well for me.

Matt

Matt, I've done that a lot of times too. Your idea works great when the only problem is someone is the "new guy". You separate them, add them all at once and everyone settles into a pecking order. Or, you can let the least aggressive fish set up shop and then add the bully, like you mentioned.

I think the main problem with this situation is the fact that there isn't going to be enough territory for that many fish in a tank that's only 50 gallons, no matter how you try and juggle them.
 
To move the oscars (at least tiger) from a 50 at this point is kinda pointless, cuz the tiger really likes it and keeps to himself. Should I consider giving up the parrot? Or my dad has a 29g with just community fish with a ton of fry it in... that should juice em up? Oscar vs convict 1" wouldnt be pretty so any feedback is highly appreciated.

PS I went to walmart and saw 3 pacus a tinfoil barb and 2 other fish (they called them "Assorted Oscars") but didnt look a thing like em with 2 reg oscars in a 15 at most tank. Now i've been reading on these sites and read that a pacu is too big for a fishtank and should not be kept at home y/n?
 
It sounds like maybe you should give up the BP. The 29 would probably be okay size-wise, but he may cause trouble for his tankmates.

In my opinion, pacus shouldn't be sold in shops. They get way too big for the vast majority of fish hobbyists to handle. My local shop has a 250 gallon tank with a couple of pacus in it- and they're about to outgrow it.
 
Just a pic, a fish specialist suggested melafix. The pleco 6" and black shark 4" love hangin around the emperor 350.
 

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This is going to sound weird, but you may be able to have a little bit of a bodyguard. I like to call them decoy fish. This fish in question is not a breed rather that a concept. I suggest using giant danios or Rainbows to accomplish this task. So here is how the plan works, the aggressive fish in the tank does not like anyone in his space. So we put someone different in his space constantly, ie the decoy. The danio will swim in and out of the area making life for the parrot a little easier seeing as how the oscar is now obsessed with chasing the decoy not him. As much as before anyways. Now seeing as how the oscar is going to be a huge beast when he grows up this will only work for a while. It may however give the parrot a little time to adjust. Hope that helps. It really works though I have tried it with very aggressive African Cichlids. :twisted:
 
Seems as though the albino oscar has really backed down, but the blood parrot is still picking at around the oscar's gill area. Keeping the light off most of the time has seemed to cut down on overall aggression. Havn't tried the decoy cause I'm afraid it'll end up torn to shreds (these fish have been together for several months now) though its a very good idea. If my fish weren't all 4+" long and highly capable of doing damage then I may take you up on it. The physical damage to the blood parrot makes me want to do something even though I know it will get better, or will it? What can I do to help the blood parrot heal? I think most of the damage is self-inflicted, for I often observe it rubbing its stomach against rocks. I noticed this in an oscar I once had that had ich and died in 3 days. Anymore suggestions?
 
So there are a few products out there to fix something like this. MetaFix and others like it do a wonderful job at healing this sort of thing. along with a healthy dose of aquarium salt will clear the problem. Or you could purchase a 10 gallon tank you can use simply for quarantine. Place the offending fish into the QT and away ya go. Hope that helps
 
Alright enough is enough. During feeding, BP chasing the black shark away and nipping at the albino oscar's sides and I had enough! Out came the giant net along with the 5" leader and I took that fish out of there faster than an oscar could eat a guppy. Back to the 29g, its been an hour, BP's eaten dinner twice, and seems to be doing good. This fish is only 3" long but is over 4x the size of the clown loaches, jewel cichlids, and 2convicts in there now (all 1" long). I doubt it will start trouble with anyone, cuz they'll kill it slowly if so. They sure seem to be entertained by the gentle giant (for now at least) that can't stop swimming up and down in the corner of the tank by me (its trying to give me a hug!). Will keep ya'll posted as far as our BP's adjustment to the 29 cichlid tank.
 
Doing better in 29g with convicts jewels and c. loaches. Beginning Melafix 7-day treatment. It suggested to remove carbon so I did but now my filter is down, will that be okay for 7 days? Lil bubble bar keeps the water moving and I'll do a 50% water change after treatment is complete. The parrot's stomache area has looked better- I don't think the oscars were good for this bloated girl. The modest cichlid group is considerably smaller and there's much more room to roam around the glass.
 
Began treatment with Melafix while cycling my tank. Filter's down and temperature's going up while the medicine does it's work. Going to add aquarium salt with tomorrow's 50% water change.
 
Filter back up and runnin' after water change it got ugly.

EDIT* Is green water a good sign of water coming out when changed? I vacuum also so it gets real muggy!
 
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