Hi. I have had two BP's (Merrill and Punch) for about 1.5 years. We love them to death and find them very amusing. In the 1.5 years they have grown 2.5 inches to be now about 3.5 inches each and are very healthy in spite of me not knowing what I was getting myself into. Merrill, the larger more agressive one - has always wanted to bite at me when I have my/hand or arm in the tank, but he (she? - not sure) is really getting out of hand lately. Is this normal behavior and is there something I can do that will stop it? It makes me jump and splash water all over the place when I am fussing with their tank. It really is startling me more than anything else, but wish it would stop. Also Punch is catching up to Merrill in size so there has been some fighting recently. I will try getting more plants and places for them to hide, but maybe I should be getting a divider? I don't want to lose anybody. Any input will be appreciated. Peace.
Comments
Space for my BP's
Hi Waldo,
Yes, that is exactly what I have been reading. 20 gallons is just not big enough. I am upgrading to a 55 gallon asap and will not add anyone else into the mix. I originally was told by the guy who owns the LPS that 20 gallon was fine (which really annoys me because I feel like I have been unknowingly cruel to these guys the past year and a half by having them in a small tank and I really love them). Anyway, thanks for the reply.
Merrill and Punch
Here is a short shot of my BP's Merrill and Punch and my current tank. The tank is very close to a chair I sit in all the time and they are not scared of me, or my daughter, or even our two cats who sit up there and watch them. They gather at the window as close as they can get...as you see in the video they don't hide from us. I can put my fingers in the tank and not get bit. It's just when I am cleaning/moving things that I get attacked relentlessly by Merrill. I tried to hand feed them yesterday, although they would not take food out of my hand at all. I will keep trying until they get used to it. Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=438...
Re: My BPs bite me....
Here is a clip of my BP tank in general.. Just to show you how much space and hiding places they want. When my baby parrots grow i even need to move them to a seperate big tank to ensure that overpopulation wont pester them
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=I95c2791J2g
Re: My BPs bite me....
I suggest you to sit next to your tank as much as possible so that the BPS see you more often.
Also, feed them at regular intervals so that they wait for you to feed them.
Hope it helps.
Not enough space for my BP's
Hi P,
Thanks for the input. Now that I have done a little research, I see that they really do not have enough space. I am going to upgrade the tank to a 55 gallon as soon as I can financially manage it (probably after the holidays). When I bought them I was told a 20 gallon tank would be fine. Now I know that's not true and possibly such a small tank is even cruel. Now that REALLY bums me out and make me feel bad for them. I got them from the LPS only a couple blocks from my house, which I frequent for supplies...so I am going to let him know I am not happy about it when I go in next time. I only have the two BPs, plus one molly, one gourami and a little survivor ghost fish, and don't plan to add anybody else to the mix. From what I read I think 55 gal. will be sufficient. I usually feed a mixture of flakes, cichlid pellets and bloodworms, twice a day. I will try some fresh stuff soon. Don't think I want to feed them anything alive. ugh.
Also, I am going to try the bigger pebbles as you suggest for the digging. But they sure love to dig and it keeps them busy.
Well, take care, and thanks again.
P
Re: Not enough space for my BP's
im afraid a 20 gallon tank just ain't gonna cut with parrots.alot of people say 30 gallons for one and 10 gallons for every new parrot you add.i suggest at least a 55 gallon for 2 parrots but 40 is ok. gouramis need at least a 30 gallon tank same with ghost fish.
Re: My BPs bite me....
I have hand fed mine before and have never experianced them biting me. I guess I got lucky...lol !!!!!
biting
my parrots bite me all the time.you get use to it after a while.
My BP's bite me
Hi PR, and thanks for the info. I loved your youtube video...what are you feeding them? You have so many, do they get along ok? Like I said, my two are having some altercations. The pet store just told me to rearrange (flatten out) the gravel every morning (they dig their holes in the gravel and rearrange the furniture as much as they can) as this is territorial behavior and that will even out the territory again. I should try feeding them by hand to see if that stops him/her from biting me. Mostly when my hands are in the tank it's to clean things up and Merrill hates that (actually, he/she does not mind my hands much when I put things back - LOL!) Well, thanks again.
BP behaviour
Patty,
Food - I feed them everything from pellets, freeze dried bloodworms and tubifex worms, live earthworms, assola, peas etc etc...
Fighting is a usual behaviour among them. They do fight. But still get along well.
Environment - Rearrange gravel everyday ? lol ! you have lots of work to do then everyday... totally impractical :) Parrots like to dig, thats a part of their behaviour. My tank - i have a thick gravel bed which acts as my mechanical/biological filter bed for my RFUG filter. I remember they used to dig holes in it which affected my tank filtration efficiency. The solution for that was to add an extra 2 inch layer of pebbles over the gravel bed. Sure, they still try to disturb the bed,, but they are unsuccessful in doing so since pebbles are of big size as you can see in the video.
Biting - Parrots need space. IF you dont provide them enough space to swim and hide, they wont like your hands in the water occupying the little bit of space they have in there.
LOL ,, Dear patty, BPs are
LOL ,,
Dear patty,
BPs are born to bite. See they are aquarium breeds of one of the wildest in the marines whose jaws even break marine rocks !! So believe me,, no genetic mutations would completely wipe out their behaviours in total.
Ill tell you something. BPs are just like pet dogs. They can even identify you as far as i can see. Try to be in their vicinity as frequent as you can. (i use to sit infront of my BP tank with my laptop and work - so they always see me). Once you get closer they would love you like hell.
Just watch my BPs being handfed::
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=cuHcAWBAvaM
At first when i did this they used to hurt me ,, but not anymore. They perfectly knows which is their food and where are my fingers.
Hope it helps !!
PR