Breeding Convicts

[JamesCarden]

Hey everyone. I have a trio of convicts in a 55 gallon tank (2 males 1 female....it was an accident i meant to get 1 male and 2 females but they were really young). everything was completly normal until recently i noticed the female started hanging out in the back corner behind some plants and in her pot and she never leaves it...she and the male she paired with guard this pot at all costs. if the pleco or the other male convict come anywhere near it the flare there gills and charge toward the offending fish. i dont see any eggs or anything (not sure what convict eggs look like anyway) if they did lay eggs how long before they hatch? and if there are no eggs are they acting this way because there going to breed? also, how many fry do they usually have? sorry for all the questions! thanks!



James

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Convicts are prolific breeders, much like guppies. If you have a pair, they will breed any way they can. They will also murder any fish that comes within a bagillion feet of their little cave. Possibly remove the other fish as they are likely breeding now. Also the oranger the females belly, the more likely she has or will soon lay eggs.

 

[ox5477]

Convicts are prolific breeders, much like guppies. If you have a pair, they will breed any way they can. They will also murder any fish that comes within a bagillion feet of their little cave. Possibly remove the other fish as they are likely breeding now. Also the oranger the females belly, the more likely she has or will soon lay eggs.

I dont know about bagillion feet but they can be quite aggressive and I would def remove the other con atleast. I would prob keep the two breeding cons by themselves so your other fish don't show up on crutches and with an eye patch and such, but the pleco might be ok as long as it keeps its distance.

The eggs usually take about 4 to 8 days to hatch and you will def see eggs or wigglers in the tank

They will prob have atleast a couple hundred per breeding

 

[JamesCarden]

can the fry grow into juvies while in there parents tank. or do i seperate them?

James

 

[ox5477]

They will be fine. The first couple of breeds the parents may eat most of them (this is typical for cichlids as they learn) but after a couple times they will be very caring and wonderful parents. After a good amount of growth they will need to be removed though as they will be viewed as competition

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Like the last person said (concurring opinion) he's right they will be fine with their parents but after they get nearly an inc h, I would seperate the parents from them. The only cichlids that tend to be fairly bad parents are normally angelfish.