Battering the divider

[Andie]

Well, nobody said that life with cichlids would ever be dull! My convict pair are becoming less and less satisfied with my method of monitoring their relationship; both are just an inch long, and already they have decided that it falls to the pair of them to demolish the divider I've set up between them. I do take it out occasionally to allow them to interact while I can watch them (Ruby is still too rough on Norman for me to let them stay together overnight) but now they both like to meet up at the divider and try to liplock through it and push it over. They're quite vigorous about it, too; my grandmother heard the rattling and thought we had mice!

Problem is, I can't decide if this means they can't bear to be separated, or hate each other so much they want to get in there and attack! I haven't noticed any real difference in their interactions; still the aggressive, pseudo-courting rituals that they've been practicing all month, but I can't help but wonder. Any thoughts/suggestions/personal experiences with this would be welcomed!

 

[digital_run]

Let them bat away....Whenever i seperate my pair the male goes crazy and will seem to take a running start and ram it. Aslong as its sturdy just leave it....

I like how you said "can't bare to be seperated". While that would be nice...I don't think thats the reason. B) If you take that divider out you'll find norman hiding or floating belly up fairly quickly.

 

[Andie]

lol thanks; for the record, I didn't really think that they were so mad-crazy in love that even minutes apart were unbearable I was, however, wondering if they wanted to be together because they appreciate the diversion of being able to chase each other for a bit. Norman usually gives as good as he gets for the first ten minutes before he gets bored and hides, which is why I like to let them have the exercise, but if this is normal behaviour then I won't let the rattling bother me. Convincing my grandmother, however . . .

 

[digital_run]

Unfortuantely he probably doesnt hide because hes bord but rather because hes scared for his life...My female would hang out around the filter intake tube and just hang there watching for the male to throw some more punishment her way.

I forget....but are you trying to breed them?


Ðigital

 

[Andie]

lol I just re-read my post; I did type bored, didn't I. I meant tired ) But yeah, scared probably isn't too far off either; Ruby's nasty

Nope, I am not trying to breed them. If they did breed I wouldn't freak but I'm not looking for a spawn If this keeps up to this degree then it's reasonable to assume it won't get better and Ruby may be traded in for either a passive male or a much gentler female, since with a 2.5g, 10g, 20g and 32 g already planned for my dorm I just won't have the room to tank them seperately

 

[digital_run]

It won't get better....no matter how many times you try it will always have the same result. Cons are nasty things towards each other....especially when kept in smaller tanks and with other cons they obviously dont want. Why not trade in one of them and keep the one you have solo in the tank. Most would pick the female for the color but i'd keep a male just because of the size and usually mean temper.

 

[Andie]

Yup, as I mentioned, Ruby will be traded if it keeps up to this degree. I don't mind a little rattling during the day but I don't think either one of them will benefit from banging against the divider this much. Personally I would choose to keep Norman since his temperament will most likely lend better to pairing him up with someone else; if I were only going to keep one solo, I would probably pick Ruby, just because I like the red-on-pink colouring best. Trying to find her a fish who could give her a run for her money . . . eek

 

[digital_run]

I know you've mentioned in other posts...but how big is this tank? There isn't alot (if any) that can deal with an aggressive con in a small tank and not out grow that tank itself. Breeding cons are capable of going toe to toe with Oscars and successfully hold there ground...now you dont have to deal with that as your not breeding, but it gives you an idea of what there capable of.

 

[Andie]

This tank is currently a temporary setup; a 20g loaner that was supposed to be replaced by a 32g when I moved into residence. Now, however, I have just (as in, an hour ago) discovered that due to the amazing incompetence of the contracter asssigned to the project, the new residence building that I applied for, which was supposed to be completed by June, will not be done even in its most basic form until October, and not ready to inhabit until January. This means I'll be reassigned to the old buildings with (MUCH) smaller rooms, and consequently hard pressed to house even my bettas, let alone my cons. I am not a little ticked off about this

Because of this rather disturbing upset, I am likely going to postpone my betta spawn until the New Year when I move into the bigger room, and continue to house Norman (and Ruby, if she behaves herself) in the divided 20g until January. It will be far from ideal, but if, as looks likely now, Ruby gets sent back to the LFS, Norman will get a 20g all to himself. They/he'll be about six or seven months old by the time I get them/him into the 32, and I am supremely annoyed about this. Divider-bashing is now the very least of my problems

 

[digital_run]

Sorry to hear about your room....What school are you going to?

Norman should be ok in the 20gal for awhile and much better than in a divided tank...10gal just isn't enough for these guys. Convicts don't grow overly fast so it should work out fine. Then when you have an empty 32gal he'll be nice and big and you can get him a mate.

 

[Andie]

I go to UPEI; they were talking all nice about upgrading, but the problem is nobody out here knows how to work fast! They work hard, yes, and thoroughly and well, but not fast!

If I can even get all my tanks in my room to begin with then Norman and his 20 gal may still end up in my closet; I'll just leave the doors open so he can get enough light. There's hardly even enough room for my computer on my desk much less a fish tank; for my first year my betta lived on top of my VCR in his 2.5g

Right now I'd like nothing more than to shrink the contracter to convict-size and throw him in with Ruby