Parrot Fish
A lot of people really like parrot fish because of their bright red, blue, green and yellow colors
These fish, who are closely related to wrassies, have teeth that help to form their parrot-like beak, from which they got their name. Their teeth serve them well though since they like to pick algae out of coral and rocks to eat.
Parrot fish are not a common fish to keep in an aquarium. This is because it is difficult to keep their teeth, which are constantly growing, trimmed. Usually, when these fish are living in oceans, they are able to keep their teeth trimmed by ingesting coral when they are looking for the algae. Grinding up this coral helps to keep their teeth trimmed. So, when they are kept in an aquarium, special food must be made for them. This food is a mixture of things. The first thing that must be done is use some cold water to make a heavy paste out of Plaster of Paris. To this you will want to add some finely chopped spinach, 6 ounces of dry, pelleted food, algae, romaine lettuce and some brine shrimp. The mixture should be formed into small balls, which will need to harden for about 2 hours. This can then be frozen as you will only want to feed your parrot fish 2 or 3 times per week.
As with any other type of fish, there are different varieties of parrot fish. While being kept in your aquarium, these fish will grow to be between 12 to 60 inches. The large fish are those that are raised in commercial fisheries. Regardless of what type of parrotfish you get, they all have the same body features, which include large, circular scales; large pectoral fins that are mainly used to help them swim. In order for them to swim quickly, a parrotfish's tail fins are equally divided into 2 parts. This tail is only used to help the parrotfish swim fast.
A lot of parrot fish like to live in large schools with several females and 1 dominant male. This male strongly defends its status within the group whenever challenged. However, if the male should die, then a female will change sex and take control of the group. Then, when a female is ready to spawn she will lay several small eggs that will float freely in the plankton until they are ready to hatch.
