Convict Cichlids

[demonmagus]

How much space do 5-6 convict cichlids need?

Also, when they spawn and their fry become free swimmers do you need to move them?

thanks

edit: also are convicts full of character? vague question I know but just wondering.

 

[Dwarfs]

Convicts

I would say that you'd need a tank of over 100 gallons to keep 6 cons, once they start breeding there won't be much space left for the others

 

[james nash]

Hi mate I would say 100g tank not a lot smaller 80g at least and get a good power filter fishy whizz.

 

[demonmagus]

How about a breeding pair?

and can they be kept by themselves? ( just one)

thanks

 

[Dwarfs]

A breeding pair can be kept in a 3ft, and a single fish would be ok in a 30" tank

 

[aardvarkfromspace]

Males don't tolerate other males IN MOST CASES... when breeding it would just make the situation 10x worse... I had 6-8 convicts in my 75g tank and the males fought quite a bit.. they were about 2-3'' in length, but I wouldn't recommend keeping lots of males together.

 

[demonmagus]

If I kept one male could I keep anything else with it?

Thanks

 

[swampcat]

I wouldn't keep more than two. These fish will fight and breed and cause you all kinds of grief. Get two females they have orange bellies. Put some other big cichlids in a 100 with them.

WHAT EVER YOU DO, DON"T BREED THEM. You can never get rid of them NOBODY will take them, you will grow too hate them, trust me.

 

[demonmagus]

yeh I realised that so I would want to keep one by itself, I mean can I put any other species of fish with it?

For example: cories, BN e.t.c.

 

[Elite]

I'm sure this won't work with all convicts, and I'm suprised it does with mine, but I have a 20 long with one full grown male convict and a yoyo loach and a kuhli loach. The kuhli isn't that interesting to me since the tank is soo full of hiding places that I didn't even know he was still there until I did a full tank renovation this summer and found him. I was pleasently suprised since I've had him basically since I started keeping fish. But the yoyo and the convict are really nteresting to watch together since the yoyo will sneak up on the con, suprise him, and then swim back as quick as he can to his side of the tank, and it just happens over and over. The convict hasn't touched him yet, but he did kill the 2 other yoyos I had. I love that con because he's huge and almost black and nearly jumps out of the water whenever I try to feed him. He has a ton of personality. I have a breeding pair of cons too, but I kind of hate it. the fry simply do not die and are hard to get rid of. The adult male is fun tho cause when you put your finger next to the tank you can here him bite the tank.
They're cool fish...I guess...I'd suggest something like firemouths though. I like plenty of other cichlids better, just cons are the ones I'm stuck with.

 

[demonmagus]

I have looked at a lot of cichlids and decided on 1 male or female convict. Thanks for your help guys. He or she will be in either a 25gallon or a 30 gallon

 

[aardvarkfromspace]

A 33g would be ideal, but uhhh if you're keeping it by itself I guess you could go with the other size tanks.

 

[cell]

i have one male pink convict in with a bolivian cichlid, a jewel cichlid, a firemouth, some kenyi fry, and plecos, and used to have a oscar in there too. he really like my firemouth, the bolivan dosn't care about anything and the jewel rules the tank. My convict fought with the jewel at first but then gave up.

 

[sub.42]

6?


Hmmmm,


Lots. Maybe 175 gallons when fully grown. These guys are hugely territorial. Smash & bash in anything smaller than 90 gallons. They will kill anything else if the tank is too small for territories to be established. I would take a stab at 30-45 uk gallons for each pair in reality.

Trust me.

sub.

 

[dcj38]

If i was you, personally i would stay well away from convicts, as i though it would be fun to have a pair in my tank. Now they will not stop breeding, and they are a pain in the butt, because no one will take their fry from me. Just a warning, and trust me you will agree with me when you get them.