How do you sex parrots

[spanishguy111]

Am I right in assuming that the female has a more sloped head?

 

[Synirr]

Sometimes the females have rounded dorsal and anal fins rather than pointed and males are generally larger, but as far as I know there's no surefire way to sex blood parrots besides watching them in breeding mode.

 

[GuppyDude]

Am I right in assuming that the female has a more sloped head?

nope, the sex of these fish cant be determind untill they are in an environment where mateing is possible. if u have more than one in a tank, lets say 3, you will notice that the males will be more territorial of the 3, and if one of them is a female, they will likely fight over her. if u are keeping them single then it is nearly impossible to sex them as there are no exterior features that give them away. in rare cases the females have a little bit differant finage, but with teh variety in them today it is difficult to tell.

 

[spanishguy111]

Am I right in assuming that the female has a more sloped head?

nope, the sex of these fish cant be determind untill they are in an environment where mateing is possible. if u have more than one in a tank, lets say 3, you will notice that the males will be more territorial of the 3, and if one of them is a female, they will likely fight over her. if u are keeping them single then it is nearly impossible to sex them as there are no exterior features that give them away. in rare cases the females have a little bit differant finage, but with teh variety in them today it is difficult to tell.

[snapback]905490[/snapback]​

I was under the impression that they had to be kept in pairs at minimum due to their high level of socialism and easy spook factor.

 

[Warrior]

You can vent them, look at there tube, if it points backwards its a male, if its forwards then its a female. This is how you tell the sex of all cichlids really, but the only thing with venting is it cause's stress on the fish from being out of water and tipped upside down.

 

[spanishguy111]

You can vent them, look at there tube, if it points backwards its a male, if its forwards then its a female. This is how you tell the sex of all cichlids really, but the only thing with venting is it cause's stress on the fish from being out of water and tipped upside down.

[snapback]907028[/snapback]​

I dont know if I'd want to stress them unnecessarily. If I end up with two males or two females or something instead of a pair they wont fight much right? They seem like fairly mellow animals.

 

[Warrior]

If the tank is big enough and they have there own space they shouldnt fight.

 

[dirtydogg]

They will actually "pair" with most any cichlid. Not as mates but they will usually buddy up with any cich they grow up with. Mine is quite taken by the severum he is in with, too bad I'm fairly sure they are both male. I have once seen in my lfs they took in a Midas that the owner could no longer house, 12+ inches. The Midas came with a parrot. As in you could not buy the full grown midas without his little parrot buddy. Kinda cute to watch there interaction in the tank. Would've bought the two if I had a tank for them!