FINWIN
, how did you get any of your parrots to hang in a tang without terrorizing the neighbors?
I got my parrots in December of 2018 (didn't have Tango until may of 2019). Had 2 baby 2 inch Oscars, (Ice and Brick), and 3 parrots (Patch, Kong, and Boss). At my LFS the parrots were in a tank with around 8 other parrots and 2 very stressed out JDs who were whirling. Since it was an open tank with no territory the fish just swam around randomly not showing any particular behavior. Except Boss who came up and greeted me. Patch swam violently, and so did Kong. So I get them all home and plunk 'em in the 225.
Ice didn't make it because I treated the tank for ich. So in the 225 I had the 3 parrots and baby O. Things were ok for about a week then they started setting up territories. My female BP Patch laid eggs. That's when it all went to hell...she tried to claim the entire tank for herself. She set up shop dead center in the tank near the back. Anyone who went past got attacked, so the other fish avoided with a wide berth. Then the two other parrots started squaring off constantly. Boss was the smallest at the time and the others ganged up on him bruising his sides and belly. Then Kong kept banging into Patch, nudging her around the tank (Kong was male at the time).
The next morning I check the tank and Patch has Kong backed into a corner with a blacked out face and split snout. At that point I had to separate them all. Plus, they stressed Brick into having ick even though he roughhoused with the rest of them. So I treat the tank before separating.
I've tried different combos back in the main tank, and none have worked. I kept Boss in the 225 because he was the 'mildest' parrot. Kong attacked a juvie Brick (~ 6 inches at the time) and knocked him clear out of the water. Then he went straight after Boss despite the fact he'd been out of the tank for weeks. These cichlids remember everything! Kong took over Boss' hide. Poor Boss ran for his life. At that point I made the decision to keep Boss in the largest tank, and give the others their own space. It's worked out well.
If a parrot is aggressive when small it will only get worse. Sometimes their adult personality comes out. Boss, who was my smallest, most meek parrot is now (along with Tango) the largest. He's the most massive parrot, thicker than my chocolate cichlid Bobo. Now he's a lip ripper. A solo fish is very interactive. I have toys and bubblers in the smaller tanks. The parrots love it, and keep themselves entertained playing and decorating. Each of them has a different personality and are very interactive.
Patch (pink female) has legit teeth. She's the apex aggressive one of my bunch. A showoff who dances and sleeps like a betta in the plants. She's also creative coming up with games to play. Her favorite is gulping bubbles, spitting them out and chasing them. Or she races up to the top and bangs the glass lid. Follows the finger and attacks everything with dive bomb moves. Very wild, jumps out of buckets. Will come up and greet you. She's very curious about stuff going on outside the tank.
Kong (was male, now female/orange) second in aggression and can't be trusted with other fish. Very high energy and a glass banger. She follows the finger. Lately she plays in the bubblers too. Always in aggressive mode, her fins are always up like a shark. If you sit near the tank she comes to 'sit' with you.
Tango (light orange male) Is the 'kook' parrot. When I got him the store people said "oh you got the crazy one." He's not crazy but he's a nervous, twitchy parrot. Around other fish he's only moderately aggressive but around other parrots he's more aggressive. He and Boss tangled so I removed him from the 225 and he's also in his own tank. Probably the most personable one, very playful once he calms down. Tango worked his way up the heirarchy in the 225 quickly but once he tried to take the #2 spot from Boss it got hairy. So out he went. Blocked in a catifish he was with in QT with rocks. He also watches cartoons.
Boss (blood orange male) has 'tactical' aggression. He picks and chooses his fights, and fights when he has the advantage and protects his body from attacks. Pretty devious, too...pretends to run then circles back and attacks. Very, very clever. Watches everything. Has interesting attack moves, he does this 'dip' thing then shoots up. Overpowers my Chocolate cichlid Bobo and went head to head with my Oscar until he was about 11 inches. Now if the Oscar nips at him he flips over and head butts. My most 'laid back' parrot overall. Will use objects to block fish from his areas.
So all this is to say that once parrots set up territories and mature, all bets are off. My fish all got along fine in the store but when the enviroment changed and they grew, everything was different. Plus they get more territorial as they age. Crap shoot, really.
