Why are my parrot fish mouth fighting? Is it aggression or breeding?

Cichlids will "lip wrestle" as part of their mating ritual or when acting aggressively. This is normal as long as you have breeding pairs. If they are males, consider separating them or increasing the size of the tank to prevent injury.

Thanks for reaching out about your aquarium. Parrot fish do possess teeth-like apparatus on the upper and lower jaw, capable of chewing invertebrates and coral. Using tongs to reach in for plants and other "furniture". Adding a male flower horn could interrupt the dynamics of the group, but also they could get around well. Human bite wounds from fish can possibly lead to infections from the water column, so cleaning your hands with soap and water anytime you enter your hands into the tank is recommended. When adding new fish, especially if concerned about aggression, providing plenty of hiding spots is important and monitoring the fish for aggression is mandatory. Be prepared to remove fish if aggression occurs. Good luck.

Cichlids in general are quite aggressive. If you have two males, this may compound the aggression. Tou can add some more plants and cover to provide hiding spots. If that doesn't work, a larger tank may be indicated. If a larger tank doesn't work, you may need to keep the aggressor separate.

Thanks for using PetCoach. There really is no solution other than a bigger tank. 50 gallons is likely too small for 6 parrot fish once they reach full size. If you cannot get a larger tank asap, I would recommend setting up several smaller tanks, or returning or rehoming the fish until you have the correct set up, A good rule of thumb is 30 gallon for one and 10 more gallons for each additional Blood Parrot. As with any fish, the bigger the tank the better. Overcrowded they are going to fight and become stressed which can lead to disease and possible death. Here's a bit more info. http://www.parrotcichlids.com/parrot-cichlid-tank-setup.asp Good luck.

She may spawn (lay eggs) about once a month. The male will then pass over them and fertilize them. Most male parrotfish are infertile, so be prepared to not have any viable eggs. Unfertilized eggs will turn opaque or cloudy after a day or two due to fungal growth. If the parents don't eat them, remove them to prevent fouling the tank.

The black fish is a Black Moor Goldfish. The white fish is a kissing gourami. It is commonly called a "kissing fish". This species of Gourami can be very territorial. What it is doing is bullying the Moor and trying to chase it away. You may need to remove one or the other. Gouramis are best kept in pairs or small groups. Consider also removing some of the plastic plants as they may injure the Moor's eyes.

Thanks for reaching out. Not sure if an accurate answer can be presented in this medical forum, but some breeder have had success with cross breeding these two to get a hybrid fish. Not sure what husbandry parameter, and sexes of which species those successes have revolved around. Maybe contacting a fresh water fish club can better answer these questions. Good luck.