What is a parrotfish?

Answer 1

Parrotfish Parrotfish are mostly tropical, perciform marine fish of the family Scaridae. Abundant on shallow reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans, the parrotfish family contains ten genera and about 90 species. Parrotfishes are named for their oral dentition: their numerous teeth are arranged in a tightly packed mosaic on the external surface of the jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak which is used to rasp algae from coral and other rocky substrates. Many species are also brightly coloured in shades of blue, green, red and yellow, but are not especially popular in aquaria. Although they are considered to be herbivores, parrotfish eat a wide variety of organisms that live on coral reefs. Some species, for example Bolbometopon muricatum may include corals (polyps) in their diet. Their feeding activity is important for the production and distribution of coral sands in the reef biome and can prevent algae from choking coral. The teeth grow continuously, making it hard to curb overgrowth in the aquarium. Ingested during feeding, coral rock is ground up by the pharyngeal teeth. Maximum sizes vary widely within the family, from 20 cm (TL) in the smallest species, such as the green parrotfish (Leptoscarus viagiensis) to 1.5 m (TL) in the largest species, the bumphead parrotfish ( Bolbometopon muricatum). A commercial fishery exists for some of the larger tropical species. Their bodies are deep, with large, thick cycloid scales, large pectoral fins and homocercal tail fins. The pectorals are the parrotfish's primary means of locomotion, the tail only used when speed is required

Answer 2

Fresh water Parrot Fish are a man made fish and not a naturally evolved species. They are the product of two entirely different species of Amazonian Cichlid produced in laboratories and then released into the aquarist market. Since they are not natural themselves, they do not have a "natural prey". As mentioned earlier, the species they were produced from were Amazonian Cichlids and their natural prey is smaller fish and crustacea.

Answer 3

• they like to eat mussel
• and prawn