Jellybean Cichlid Facts:

average adult size:	8 inches long
average life span:	5-8 years
diet:	Omnivore-flake/pellet
minimum aquarium size:	30+ gallons
water parameters:	temp:75-80°F  pH: 5-8

Diet

A well-balanced Cichlid diet consists of:

• Food may be dried, pelleted, frozen or live.
• Avoid exclusive food which is not nutritionally complete.

Feeding

Things to remember when feeding your Cichlid:

• Feed small amounts 1-3 times daily, no more than fish will eat in 3-5 minutes.
• Thaw frozen foods if you choose to feed frozen.

Housing

• Keep in an appropriate size aquarium; provide plants for hiding, various species may prefer sparse or thick vegetation.
• Stable water quality, water temperature, and pH levels are critical to the health of the aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality or pH levels, Home Aquatics offers water testing.

Characteristics

• Sexing them is difficult.
• Males will show a pink around their gills and on the throat when they are in spawning colors.

Habitat Maintenance

Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment.
Weekly: Check water quality at least once a week.
Monthly: Change 10-25% of the total volume of water every 2-4 weeks, or as needed.
Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually.

Compatibility

Jellybean Cichlids are compatible with most fish of the same size, however they can have a nervous disposition towards species other than its own.

Health

Signs of a Healthy Fish

• Clear eyes
• Healthy appetite
• Bright, even coloring
• Clean in appearance

Avoid overcrowded conditions; they are a major cause of stress and disease. Maintain good water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration.

Red Flags

• loss of color or appetite
• spots or fungus on body or mouth
• erratic swimming
• frayed fins

Common Health Issues

Health Issue	Symptoms or Causes	Suggested Action
Fin rot	Frayed or disintegrating fins; the base of the fins usually reddens.	Improve water quality; consult your aquatic veterinarian for treatment.
Ich	White spots appear on fins and body; fish rubs against hard objects or swims awkwardly.	Quarantine fish immediately; use a commercial ich remedy for at least two weeks

As a cichlid with aggressive parents, they would not be considered a community fish. However with their shy peaceful nature they can be kept in aquariums with other fair sized fish. If kept with other cichlids, make sure their tank mates are not overly aggressive. They can be kept with Angelfish, peaceful catfish species such as Plecostomus, Corydoras and Glass Catfish, Kuhli Loaches, livebearers like Swordtails, and characins such as Tetras,and Silver Dollars.  This being said some of these fish develop a mean streak so keep a close eye on them if kept in a community tank.

Jellybeans have a roundish 'balloon' shaped body. They have a very small mouth and perhaps they are called Parrotfish because their nose looks like a parrot's beak. They also have some other distinctions such as their deformed spines which gives them their unique shape and their overly large iris. Because they have exaggerated physical traits sometimes their small mouths do not close normally, making it more difficult for them to eat. Also their egg-shaped bodies make it difficult for them to swim naturally, and so they are awkward and lacking in grace.

The Blood Parrot is a hardy fish and good for the beginner cichlid keeper.  Because of the shape of the mouth feeding can be difficult at times, but there are commerical foods designed for this fish.  These fish are messy feeders, so be prepared to perform a good deal of cleaning.