Parrot cichlid
Hoplarchus psittacus
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C77–86 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 25 cm10 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
Needs very soft, acidic, warm water and a long tank; generally calmer than its size suggests but grows deep and heavy.Needs very soft, acidic, warm water and a long tank; generally calmer than its size suggests but grows deep and heavy.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- African clawed frog
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Blue acara
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Celestial pearl danioNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Dusky millions fish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Glowlight danio
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Golden dwarf barb
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Pearl danio
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Ticto barb
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Zebra danioNo shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Parrot cichlidAlligator gar may eat Parrot cichlid
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Parrot cichlidArapaima may eat Parrot cichlid
- Bearded corydoras
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 25–30 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Rio Negro and upper Orinoco basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | semi aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 24 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |