Fight Blood Parrots

[humBill]

Yikes - I have a problem. I have had two blood parrots for about 18 months.
One has always been larger than the other. For quite some time the norm was
they would swim around and occasionally the larger one would swim over and
bump the smaller one or sometimes just chase it to a corner. While this
wasn't my favorite activity I dismissed it as 'normal'. My wife was
appalled but I gave it little thought as the smaller one did not seem upset
and most of the time they got along and were frequently beside each other.
It was just occasionally and no harm was ever done. Within the last month
or two the smaller one apparently has decided he is now big enough to take
care of itself. I would now sometimes see it bumping back - again no harm.
Usually they would just go head to head (actually mouth to mouth) and it
looked like they were kissing or having a head on pushing match - only once
in a while. Now recently they are becoming persistent. I will see them
swimming in little small circles chasing each others tails. But there they
never try to 'attack'; apparently they are jockying for position. They will
eventually end up head to head and 'fight' with the same kissing/pushing
activity. I was a bit concerned about this but it is all in such slow
motion I still gave it little thought. I figured they would eventually work
it out. Alas last night I noticed they are hurting each other. I don't
know if it is intentional or errant 'bumps' but both have a small abrasion
on the bridge of their nose, but much more concerning is both seem to have
injured eyes. There is a little loose material over the eyeball and both
seem to have some cloudiness as well. Strangely? enough it is only on the
right side of each.

So I need you help. What should I do? It doesn't seem like separating them
is a long term solution and I don't really have another tank that would be
an appropriate moving place. I tried putting a second 'house' in the tank
but they now both tend towards it. I am also wondering if I should be
adding Stress Coat or some other product to lessen the damage they are
inflicting on each other. In other tanks I have small tropicals (in small
10-15 gal tanks) and fancy goldfish in my two larger tanks. Unfortunately
at 5-6 inches they are much larger than any other parrots than I have seem
for sale, except a couple which are out of my budget. So, adding another may
not be the solution? I would really appreciate your suggestions as these are
by far my favorite fish but before long I fear I will have no fish. Thanxx
Bill Brister - Austin, Texas

[NetMax]

"humBill" > wrote in message
...
> Yikes - I have a problem. I have had two blood parrots for about 18
> months. One has always been larger than the other. For quite some time
> the norm was they would swim around and occasionally the larger one would
> swim over and bump the smaller one or sometimes just chase it to a corner.
> While this wasn't my favorite activity I dismissed it as 'normal'. My
> wife was appalled but I gave it little thought as the smaller one did not
> seem upset and most of the time they got along and were frequently beside
> each other. It was just occasionally and no harm was ever done. Within
> the last month or two the smaller one apparently has decided he is now big
> enough to take care of itself. I would now sometimes see it bumping
> back - again no harm. Usually they would just go head to head (actually
> mouth to mouth) and it looked like they were kissing or having a head on
> pushing match - only once in a while. Now recently they are becoming
> persistent. I will see them swimming in little small circles chasing each
> others tails. But there they never try to 'attack'; apparently they are
> jockying for position. They will eventually end up head to head and
> 'fight' with the same kissing/pushing activity. I was a bit concerned
> about this but it is all in such slow motion I still gave it little
> thought. I figured they would eventually work it out. Alas last night I
> noticed they are hurting each other. I don't know if it is intentional or
> errant 'bumps' but both have a small abrasion on the bridge of their nose,
> but much more concerning is both seem to have injured eyes. There is a
> little loose material over the eyeball and both seem to have some
> cloudiness as well. Strangely? enough it is only on the right side of
> each.
>
> So I need you help. What should I do? It doesn't seem like separating
> them is a long term solution and I don't really have another tank that
> would be an appropriate moving place. I tried putting a second 'house' in
> the tank but they now both tend towards it. I am also wondering if I
> should be adding Stress Coat or some other product to lessen the damage
> they are inflicting on each other. In other tanks I have small tropicals
> (in small 10-15 gal tanks) and fancy goldfish in my two larger tanks.
> Unfortunately at 5-6 inches they are much larger than any other parrots
> than I have seem for sale, except a couple which are out of my budget. So,
> adding another may not be the solution? I would really appreciate your
> suggestions as these are by far my favorite fish but before long I fear I
> will have no fish. Thanxx
> Bill Brister - Austin, Texas


A certain amount of mouth wrestling is normal for a pair, but with 2 of the
same sex (especially 2 males) this can become a problem which is only solved
by removing one of the fish. Take a picture and go around your local pet
shops to see which one will trade you the best deal (ie: store credit, fish
food etc), or who will even take him in for free (don't be too picky, they
are doing you a favour ;~). Clean water & good filtration will probably be
enough to help the survivor recover. You can assess his progress (or lack
of) after a few days and then adjust as needed (ie: Melafix). hth
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Gill Passman]

NetMax wrote:
> "humBill" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Yikes - I have a problem. I have had two blood parrots for about 18
>>months. One has always been larger than the other. For quite some time
>>the norm was they would swim around and occasionally the larger one would
>>swim over and bump the smaller one or sometimes just chase it to a corner.
>>While this wasn't my favorite activity I dismissed it as 'normal'. My
>>wife was appalled but I gave it little thought as the smaller one did not
>>seem upset and most of the time they got along and were frequently beside
>>each other. It was just occasionally and no harm was ever done. Within
>>the last month or two the smaller one apparently has decided he is now big
>>enough to take care of itself. I would now sometimes see it bumping
>>back - again no harm. Usually they would just go head to head (actually
>>mouth to mouth) and it looked like they were kissing or having a head on
>>pushing match - only once in a while. Now recently they are becoming
>>persistent. I will see them swimming in little small circles chasing each
>>others tails. But there they never try to 'attack'; apparently they are
>>jockying for position. They will eventually end up head to head and
>>'fight' with the same kissing/pushing activity. I was a bit concerned
>>about this but it is all in such slow motion I still gave it little
>>thought. I figured they would eventually work it out. Alas last night I
>>noticed they are hurting each other. I don't know if it is intentional or
>>errant 'bumps' but both have a small abrasion on the bridge of their nose,
>>but much more concerning is both seem to have injured eyes. There is a
>>little loose material over the eyeball and both seem to have some
>>cloudiness as well. Strangely? enough it is only on the right side of
>>each.
>>
>>So I need you help. What should I do? It doesn't seem like separating
>>them is a long term solution and I don't really have another tank that
>>would be an appropriate moving place. I tried putting a second 'house' in
>>the tank but they now both tend towards it. I am also wondering if I
>>should be adding Stress Coat or some other product to lessen the damage
>>they are inflicting on each other. In other tanks I have small tropicals
>>(in small 10-15 gal tanks) and fancy goldfish in my two larger tanks.
>>Unfortunately at 5-6 inches they are much larger than any other parrots
>>than I have seem for sale, except a couple which are out of my budget. So,
>>adding another may not be the solution? I would really appreciate your
>>suggestions as these are by far my favorite fish but before long I fear I
>>will have no fish. Thanxx
>>Bill Brister - Austin, Texas
>
>
>
> A certain amount of mouth wrestling is normal for a pair, but with 2 of the
> same sex (especially 2 males) this can become a problem which is only solved
> by removing one of the fish. Take a picture and go around your local pet
> shops to see which one will trade you the best deal (ie: store credit, fish
> food etc), or who will even take him in for free (don't be too picky, they
> are doing you a favour ;~). Clean water & good filtration will probably be
> enough to help the survivor recover. You can assess his progress (or lack
> of) after a few days and then adjust as needed (ie: Melafix). hth

I can only second this having had to euthanise one of my Mbunas tonight
because it got "voted out of the tank". Try and save one of them by
trying to get it the best home possible. IME good water quality and food
helps those injured to recover but constant abuse will result in one or
both being the loser. Incidently it was a female of the same species of
the two warring alpha males that bit the dust....maybe she made the
wrong choice :-(

BTW my two alpha Mbuna fish ended up scarred following their mouth
wrestles....they have now divided the tank between themselves and the
scars have healed...but I'm still not happy

FWIW

Gill

[MarAzul]

"humBill" > wrote in message
...
> So I need you help. What should I do? It doesn't seem like separating
> them is a long term solution and I don't really have another tank that
> would be an appropriate moving place.


How big is your parrot tank, by the way?
When two BP's get it into their head to fight, there's not much you can do
to stop it. You basically have three options: Put a divider in the tank,
house them in seperate tanks, or trade one in at your LFS. If you go with
the latter, I'd say trade the most aggressive one, there's a chance you can
introduce another BP in with the milder of the two.

I have four of the little buggers, and the only one who fights is the
female - the males are interested in other, more important things... like
food.

Mar
---------
VTIT