New 40 Gal For Convict/parrot

[wiksta]

Hey guys. I just bought a 40 gallon tank for my Convict/Parrot. I have had the fish for 4 years. I use to have a convict and a white parrot that was super aggressive. They mated and he is the only one that survived. He has been in a 20 gallon tank by himself. I have tried other fish in the past but he beats them all up. I had a black lab African for a while but the African nipped his fins too much. He attacks me when i approach the tank and even from across the room when he sees me move. I have looked but cant find any info on this type of fish. Anyone information would be appreciated.

I am setting up my tank tomorrow. I got 2 marine land pro 30 H.O.T. canisters with it. I also have a 30 gallon bio wheel pump that on the 20 i will use as well. So around 90 gallons of filtration. I need help with how i am going to set up the tank. I have always wanted to try white sand on the bottom. What kind of substrate should i use? I have had plants before but just in rocks. Is that a good idea with this type of cichlid? Maybe some sand some natural river rock? I also want to have some live plants. Not too many but a decent amount. The lighting system is 3 VHO florescent lights. I will get plant lights.

What are your guys ideas for how to set up my tank. Im going to have it for a long time. I want it to be cool. I would also like to get another fish. Any ideas of one that can hang with mine but wont fin nip (hardly ever). I like my fish too much to get another fish to boss it around.

Thanks in advance!
I will post pics of the fish tomorrow.

 

[minnnt]

So is the fish a convict cross parrot?
Set the tank up how ever you want, it's your choice.

 

[wiksta]

So is the fish a convict cross parrot?
Set the tank up how ever you want, it's your choice.

Its a mix between a white parrot (not a blood parrot) and a convict.
I am just asking for suggestions on my setup ideas.
He looked like that but honestly less of a blood parrot shape and a solid white color. I don't think it was a blood parrot, i guess it could be but i have had 2 of them for just as long as i have had him so i know a lot about blood parrots. I am unsure of what he really was. Maybe a parrot mix? His color was solid white with no reds or pink or any other colors.

 

[minnnt]

Looks awesome tbh, i really like it. Is it a short bodied convict? I believe someone else on this site has them. Jelly bean convict? Have a google and see if you find anything. The convict atm looks nothing like a parrot imo.

As for tank setup, i would go with a dark substrate personally as it enhances the fish's colour and reflects less light which will show the blue of the fish much better. Vibrant green plants always look well in dark tanks and add some rocks and some wood.

Here you go

jelly bean

 

[Hermithall]

Real plants aren't necessary and will probably take a battering off your cichlid - but if you really want to try real plants it might pay to use the hardiest ones such as amazonian swords and java ferns. Otherwise, decent plastic ones are the way to go.
A few flat rocks and maybe a cave would be good for him. While your new tank is empty, you could consider fitting a 3d background - they look amazing and it does away with any internal reflections from the back pane. I wouldn't put sand in there, cichlids like to dig around in coarser substrate in my opinion and the glare of pale sand will wash out his colours. Nice looking fish, he'll probably be less stressed out in the 40g - remember to dechlorinate and transfer the old filter media across when you make the switch

Edit: Forgot to comment on adding another fish in there - maybe try pairing him with a female convict? Other suitable partners could be a parrot fish or a firemouth cichlid. You should add the new fish into the new tank at the same time your convict/parrot goes in, i.e before he's established his new territory.

P.S Could the white parrot have been a Pink Convict because your current fish looks like an out and out convict to me?
Link to Pink Convict pic: http/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Pink_Convict_Cichlid.jpg/200px-Pink_Convict_Cichlid.jpg

 

[minnnt]

My HRP's have been fine in planted aquariums using tough plants. They also currently have a sand substrate, but do equally well with fine gravel.

 

[Hermithall]

That's cool mnnnt, depends on the fish I guess - I've never kept red points, in fact I've never even seen them in any LFS's round here. I can't keep any sort of real plant in my cichlid tanks unfortunately, they just decimate them
I didn't mean to poo poo the idea of sand in a cichlid tank, far from it - all just personal taste. I know my fish prefer something coarser to sand though. They like to rearrange the gravel with great precision, even seen 'em bicker over a specific stone before, it keeps them entertained. They never bothered with Argos play sand, not to mention looking like they'd all just seen a ghost.

 

[minnnt]

Yeah i know what you mean mate. I use unipac sand, it's coarser than the argos play sand. My ellioti can shift an immense amount with each mouthful He is also fine with plants.

 

[KittyKat]

So is the fish a convict cross parrot?

Its a mix between a white parrot (not a blood parrot) and a convict.

Looks awesome tbh, i really like it. Is it a short bodied convict? I believe someone else on this site has them. Jelly bean convict? Have a google and see if you find anything. The convict atm looks nothing like a parrot imo.

Yes, the white fish is a "balloon" convict, not a parrot.

He looked like that but honestly less of a blood parrot shape and a solid white color. I don't think it was a blood parrot, i guess it could be but i have had 2 of them for just as long as i have had him so i know a lot about blood parrots. I am unsure of what he really was. Maybe a parrot mix? His color was solid white with no reds or pink or any other colors.

If you know a lot about blood parrots, you should already know that red, orange, white and every other colour in between are still all called by the species common name, which is "blood parrot", regardless of the colour of the fish, and should see from the body shape of that fish that it really is not a parrot

Vibrant green plants always look well in dark tanks and add some rocks and some wood.

Real plants aren't necessary and will probably take a battering off your cichlid - but if you really want to try real plants it might pay to use the hardiest ones such as amazonian swords and java ferns. Otherwise, decent plastic ones are the way to go.

My HRP's have been fine in planted aquariums using tough plants.

Plants also use up nitrate, so the water quality will not need to be maintained as much by water changes. I found plants which can be tied to decor (Anubias, Java ferns, Java moss) to work well with all cichlids (even with green terrors and African cichlids).

 

[minnnt]

Thanks Kat for the info

 

[AquaJason]

So is the fish a convict cross parrot?
Set the tank up how ever you want, it's your choice.

Its a mix between a white parrot (not a blood parrot) and a convict.
I am just asking for suggestions on my setup ideas.
He looked like that but honestly less of a blood parrot shape and a solid white color. I don't think it was a blood parrot, i guess it could be but i have had 2 of them for just as long as i have had him so i know a lot about blood parrots. I am unsure of what he really was. Maybe a parrot mix? His color was solid white with no reds or pink or any other colors.

Hi, I can see how it looks like a white blood parrot but am more convinced it is an albino convict- check some images out on google.
Also the likelihood of a parrot cichlid producing fertile eggs/sperm is rather rare although it has bee known

 

[GShorty1981]

Its a short bodied male pink convict, i have kept loads of them in the past, infact you usually get a few from a pink convict spawn, they are cute.

Your fish you have now is 100% Convict Cichlid, not a hybrid.