Convict Cichlid

[ihasanzongi]

i'v had to give up my bala sharks known that they would much rather like a bigger tank, seeing how my 90 cracked (U), but any ways i was wondering if i can get a pair of conviect chchlids in a 20 gallon tall, with maybe a green terror? this is just a thought but it would be nice, i love the look of them and i'v read that they are easy to breed? i'v never had these types of fish, any thing would be help full thanks!

 

[tnhowery]

The green terror is a no, it will reach around 12 inches, as for the convicts they reach around 5 inches and should be ok in a 20 gallon tall but a 20 gallon long would be better.

 

[ihasanzongi]

The green terror is a no, it will reach around 12 inches, as for the convicts they reach around 5 inches and should be ok in a 20 gallon tall but a 20 gallon long would be better.

great thanks for the fast reply, but i have another question, could a green terror be in a mbuna tank? as i am planing on setting up a 55 gallon one.

 

[tnhowery]

I dont think so the green terror can only be kept with fish of its size, i.e. jack dempsey, oscar, larger catfish...

 

[Josiah]

GT get pretty big as stated, and they are vicious fish too.

 

[ihasanzongi]

I dont think so the green terror can only be kept with fish of its size, i.e. jack dempsey, oscar, larger catfish...

Dang.. oh well a great looking fish, i was in love with in as soon as i saw it, it makes me not want to get a mbuna but i also love the looks of those fish and i'v read that a green terror has kill or almost kill a oscar 3X its size! now thats a fish that can fight!

 

[vancouver]

I wouldn't put convicts in a 20g tall.. I don't even think I'd keep convicts in a 20 long for their entire lives.

 

[kribensis12]

My friend had a 2 foot male and female convict and they laid over 2,500 eggs! and there fry were huge and healthy!They also lived about 16 years. He kept them in a inhouse pond( it is a pond but if you go uder a small roof and a about 4 steps down you can see into the "pond"). He showed me some pics of them. They were like freaki'n mutuants!

 

[Bignose]

The dimesnions for a typical 20high are (in inches) 24x12x16. Convicts get to be 7 inches long (male) or 4.5 inches long (female). This would be incredibly cruel in my mind. There would barely be room for the fish to turn around in that tank. If it had to be done temporarily, it might be ok. But, in such a tank, the fish will only survive, and really, the goal of successful fishkeeping is for the fish to thrive. In order to thrive, they need adequate housing, and this tank does not fall under that criteria in my opinion.

By the way, green terrors grow to be over 12 inches long, both males and females. The general rule of thumb is that the width of the tank need to be around twice as big as the fish so that there is room to turn around, and the length needs to be at least 5 times as long as the fish, at the barest of minumums. 7 times as long as the fish is much, much better. The fish need room to stretch their fins, so to speak. So, we are talking a tank that is at least 2 feet by 5 feet - like around 120 gallons. 180 would be far, far better.

There are several sites on the web, including the fish index on this forum, that list the typical lengths of the fish. This way you can calculate for yourself what the minimum size tank has to be to keep that fish for yourself, and then worry about compatibility with the other fish you want to keep. Again, fish can survive in a smaller tank, but the real goal is for the fish to live out a full, happy, healthy life. In other words not just survive, but thrive.

 

[SamUK]

The dimesnions for a typical 20high are (in inches) 24x12x16. Convicts get to be 7 inches long (male) or 4.5 inches long (female). This would be incredibly cruel in my mind. There would barely be room for the fish to turn around in that tank. If it had to be done temporarily, it might be ok. But, in such a tank, the fish will only survive, and really, the goal of successful fishkeeping is for the fish to thrive. In order to thrive, they need adequate housing, and this tank does not fall under that criteria in my opinion.

By the way, green terrors grow to be over 12 inches long, both males and females. The general rule of thumb is that the width of the tank need to be around twice as big as the fish so that there is room to turn around, and the length needs to be at least 5 times as long as the fish, at the barest of minumums. 7 times as long as the fish is much, much better. The fish need room to stretch their fins, so to speak. So, we are talking a tank that is at least 2 feet by 5 feet - like around 120 gallons. 180 would be far, far better.

There are several sites on the web, including the fish index on this forum, that list the typical lengths of the fish. This way you can calculate for yourself what the minimum size tank has to be to keep that fish for yourself, and then worry about compatibility with the other fish you want to keep. Again, fish can survive in a smaller tank, but the real goal is for the fish to live out a full, happy, healthy life. In other words not just survive, but thrive.

jus to add to that.

your mbuna will require something in the tank to buffer the PH and make it high like they like it.

a GT wont appreciate that at all.



have to agree with vancouver too, i wouldnt keep cons in anything less than a 29g which is a thin 3ft tank i think.


oh and convicts will spawn in a shoe box full of water if you gave them the chance so im afraid its no great feat if they do in your tank. they seem to think the worlds ending and they need to repopulate or something lol.

 

[ihasanzongi]

ohh okay, cut those guys of the list, thanks for the help guys! Most of the places i went to said they only get a 5inchs oh well

ohh okay, cut those guys of the list, thanks for the help guys! Most of the places i went to said they only get a 5inchs oh well

what would be a suitable tank for these guys? a 40 US gallons?

 

[SamUK]

a pair without tank mates 29 gallons (3ft)


a pair with tank mates then anything smaller than an 80g your probably risking it cos there viscous when they breed.


if you got jus one sex then id say the same size tank applies for them but you can have tank mates. my male cons never bother anybody.