Blood parrot cichlid
Hybrid fish, first bred in around 1986 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Blood Parrot Cichlid (Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus), or parrot cichlid, is a hybrid species of fish in the family Cichlidae.[1] The fish was first bred in Taiwan around 1986.[2][3] Blood parrots should not be confused with other parrot cichlids or salt water parrotfish (family Scaridae).[4] Natural colors of the fish are red, yellow, and grey: other colors are injected by breeders.
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Blood parrot cichlid | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Hybrid: | Amphilophus citrinellus × Vieja melanurus |
Because this hybrid cichlid has various anatomical deformities, controversy exists over the ethics of creating the blood parrot. One deformity is its mouth, which has only a narrow vertical opening. This makes blood parrots somewhat harder to feed and potentially vulnerable to malnutrition.[4]
The fish is known to be semi-aggressive. Despite its deformity, it can hold its own in a fight, and will prey on any small fish that can fit in its mouth.