Parrot cichlids are ornamental fish hybridized from Red Devil Cichlids (Amphilophus labiatus) and Midas Cichlids (Amphilophus citrinellus). They come in a wide range of varieties, with the following being some common types and their characteristics:
Blood Parrot Cichlid
Alternative Names: Red God of Wealth, God of Wealth Fish
Traits: Boasts a bright red body, with a shape similar to a sphere or oval. It has a rounded back, well-developed tail fins, and an adorable triangular mouth that always looks like it’s smiling. This variety is robust and hardy, with an omnivorous diet and strong adaptability to water conditions, making it relatively easy to keep.
King Kong Parrot Cichlid
Traits: A variant of the Blood Parrot Cichlid. It has a fleshy hump on its forehead, a bright red body, and can grow over 30 centimeters in length. Its mouth is a normal straight "one-line" shape, and its head and back protrude—with the hump becoming more prominent in adulthood. It is more aggressive and territorial than regular parrot cichlids, but this behavior eases when multiple individuals are kept together in a large tank.
Gold Ingot Parrot Cichlid (Red Gold Ingot)
Traits: The junction between its head and back forms a smooth, curved transition. It has a short, round body with a full belly, a natural bright red color, and clear, bright eyes with distinct black-and-white contrast. This is an improved parrot cichlid variety with high genetic stability.
Heart-Shaped Parrot Cichlid
Traits: The tail of young fish is surgically trimmed, giving it a heart shape when viewed upside down. It grows slower and remains smaller than regular parrot cichlids. When selecting this variety, check that the "heart" shape is complete—with the junction of the dorsal and anal fins forming a smooth, heart-shaped plane.
Unicorn Parrot Cichlid
Traits: The front part of the young fish’s dorsal fin is surgically trimmed to resemble a rhinoceros horn. It has a rounded body and a head with a horn-like protrusion, making it popular among aquarium enthusiasts.
Red-and-White Parrot Cichlid
Traits: Inherits genes from Red-and-White Flower Devil Cichlids, resulting in a body with mixed red and white colors. High-quality Red-and-White Parrot Cichlids require clear separation between red and white, with distinct color boundaries. Preferred patterns include "white-headed" (white head with red body) or "red-cap" (red patch on the head, white body).
Snow Parrot Cichlid (White Jade Parrot Cichlid)
Traits: A variant of the Red-and-White Parrot Cichlid. It has red-and-white patterns as a juvenile, but the red fades as it matures, leaving a pure white body. A distinctive red ring around its eyes makes it stand out.
Yellow Parrot Cichlid
Traits: Has a yellow body. To maintain its yellow color, it must not be fed color-enhancing food—otherwise, its body will turn red. It is unique and cute, but incompatible with red-enhancing diets.
Purple Parrot Cichlid
Traits: A Blood Parrot Cichlid that has undergone artificial color enhancement. In adulthood, the trailing edges of its scales typically take on a deep blue hue.
Kirin Parrot Cichlid (Flowerhorn Parrot Cichlid)
Traits: Said to be a hybrid between a Flowerhorn Cichlid and a Blood Parrot Cichlid, featuring a unique appearance and distinct genetic traits.
Candy Parrot Cichlid (Multi-Colored Parrot Cichlid)
Traits: Blood Parrot Cichlids are injected with dyes to turn purple, blue, yellow, or orange, but the colors are not long-lasting. Additionally, there are Blood Parrot Cichlids with laser-printed characters (such as "Luck," "Blessing," "Wealth," and "Longevity" in Chinese) on their bodies.