Article From SubmitYOURArticle.com: Parrot Cichlid Diseases and How To Fix Them

The blood parrot cichlid , also known as
Hoplarchus Psittacus is a chubby looking cichlid
hybrid with a snout that resembles a birds beak.
They were bred in Taiwan in the 80s and
introduced to the west in the 90s.

It was some years later that their popularity
grew in western culture. The exact origins of
this cichlid hybrid are not known though it is
believed they are a result of cross breeding
between different South American cichlids. Here
are the diseases that Parrot cichlids are most
prone to catching.

Black spot disease

This disease is usually very easy to spot as it
results in largish black markings all over the
fish. If you're looking to purchase and you see
this DO NOT BUY. This disease is usually due to a
problem with the water condition and can be fixed
if you tend to it quickly. Black spots can also
tell you that your fish is ready to breed. Black
Spot Disease is thought to be a Blood Parrot
specific parasite, although some believe it to be
a generic defect caused through cross breeding.

Black Spot Disease will start to take over large
parts of your fish's body so if you notice this
then you have to check the water for excess
nitrate and ammonia. These chemicals can kill
Blood Parrots. The rapid spread of Black Spot
Disease is a common way in which their stress can
be exhibited. Black Spot Disease is not
significantly harmful unless it begins to cover
large areas of the fish's body. As it stands the
Blood Parrot Cichlid is the only fish that gets
black spot disease which could be due to the way
the hybrid was bred.

Fin Rot

Fin rot is usually caused by one of 2 things. The
water that they live in has gone stagnant. More
than likely though this will be caused by
aggressive behavior which must be monitored or
else it may result in death. The symptoms are
usually the fins turning white and curling out of
shape.

Dropsy or Edema

Dropsy is a symptom as opposed to a disease and
will show with swelling around the fish's abdomen
giving the fish a cone like shape. Dropsy can be
treated with Metronidazole if its spotted soon
enough but usually if you're seeing the full
blown symptoms then it is too late.

Hole-In-The-Head Disease

This disease can appear as open pitted wounds
around the fish's head area and along the back
bone. It can easily be mistaken for other fish
attacking the victim as it is an open flesh type
wound something is slowly eroding away the flesh.
The fish become lethargic , stop eating and die
if they are not treated soon enough.

Fish Tuberculosis

Fish Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease
and can quickly kill all the fish in an aquarium
before you know it. in its worst stage the fish
will get blister looking type sores which will
break and infect all the other fish. This will
cause the fish to slow right down and appear to
have a bent back bone. It will then develop into
pussy sores which then break and begin infecting
the other fish. The only way to treat this is to
quarentine the fish individually and dose with
strong antibiotics howevr the cances of survival
are very slim.

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