Some Advice Needed Please

[Spicy MacHaggis]

Hi folks. Had a bit of a problem after the lfs assured me that a blood parrot would be fine in my community tank. After a sword tail and platy mysteriously disappeared I had my suspicions. Then I caught him in the act and before another fish was murdered I isolated him. I ran out and got him a ten gallon (I realize he'll outgrow it but he's still pretty small). Any idea for one or two tank mates for him before he has to be rehomed?

 

[BerryAttack]

Hi folks. Had a bit of a problem after the lfs assured me that a blood parrot would be fine in my community tank. After a sword tail and platy mysteriously disappeared I had my suspicions. Then I caught him in the act and before another fish was murdered I isolated him. I ran out and got him a ten gallon (I realize he'll outgrow it but he's still pretty small). Any idea for one or two tank mates for him before he has to be rehomed?

a blood parrot is not a community fish.. they are aggressive fish and will kill your other fish.. the lfs have no idea what they are saying.. and i would get another blood parrot because when they are older and have not grow with another buddy and are left alone they will not accept any other fish of their breed.

 

[KittyKat]

If it is big enough to eat swordtails, it needs to be rehomed now as a 10 gallon tank would be much too small. If it is still a fry (under one inch), then it should not have been able to eat the swordtail. Basically, small tanks can only take small fish.

Next time, do your own research, ask for advice on here and test your LFS's knowledge before even thinking of buying a live animal.

 

[Spicy MacHaggis]

He's about three inches at the moment. I can only assume that he ate the sword and the platy because I could find no sign of them. I never saw any corpse or anything. Just realized one day they weren't there anymore. I have a tight lid so they couldn't have jumped out and the rest of the fish in there are peaceful. The only reason I have him I such a small tank is that it's all I had and I can't find a new home for him.

 

[BerryAttack]

He's about three inches at the moment. I can only assume that he ate the sword and the platy because I could find no sign of them. I never saw any corpse or anything. Just realized one day they weren't there anymore. I have a tight lid so they couldn't have jumped out and the rest of the fish in there are peaceful. The only reason I have him I such a small tank is that it's all I had and I can't find a new home for him.

gotta make sure you do your research man.. put him up on kijiji to see if you'll get a buyer..

 

[KittyKat]

He's about three inches at the moment. I can only assume that he ate the sword and the platy because I could find no sign of them. I never saw any corpse or anything. Just realized one day they weren't there anymore. I have a tight lid so they couldn't have jumped out and the rest of the fish in there are peaceful. The only reason I have him I such a small tank is that it's all I had and I can't find a new home for him.

In that case, you should not put it in anything under 3 ft long and ideally it should be in at least a 4 ft long tank. Yes, at that size it is big enough to eat a small swordtail or platy. Have you asked the LFS that you got him from to take him back? Advertised it on here? On Aquarist Classifieds? Gumtree? eBay? Other forums? On forums that are targeted at parrot keepers? They are in relatively high demand, for all their problems. Depending on where you are, I may know someone who can take him off your hands, so fill in your location at least down to the county. The ideal solution is, of course, to take him back to the LFS so they figure out not to sell them so happily.

 

[Spicy MacHaggis]

I just got in contact from an old neighbor I grew up with. She has a 125 gallon and she is willing to take him. I kinda feel dumb after all this. I should have known better. I'm still kinda new to keeping fish but I'm not a complete amateur.