Convict Cichlids

[dmc25_uk]

hope im doing this right, first time poster, i was given a load of convicts some black & grey with stripes and some of the white form, apart from eating alot of my other fish ! they seemed ok, but now the white ones have developed a goldy tinge on they tummy and top finns , and even the black and gray and gone slighty goldy tinge (hard to see on them ) but not all have got it, is this normal ?

other fish in my tank r 2 big sucker fish, 2 other cichlids (not sure what ones, never knew they were untill we got the rest) , a catfish, red tail shark ,and another fish but thats dieing slowly. swim bladder i think.

 

[idlefingers]

That's breeding colours.. Completely normal. Convicts are very aggressive when breeding and will cause mayhem when they start up. If you do want them to breed (and bear in mind their fry are difficult to get rid of because most fish shops dont want them) it's really best to have them in a species tank or with resilient tankmates who can take the aggression.

 

[dmc25_uk]

That's breeding colours.. Completely normal. Convicts are very aggressive when breeding and will cause mayhem when they start up. If you do want them to breed (and bear in mind their fry are difficult to get rid of because most fish shops dont want them) it's really best to have them in a species tank or with resilient tankmates who can take the aggression.

ive just been reading other posts, and my convicts are digging out a 'hole' in the stones one of the coloured one and a black and gray one, they r not fighting and seem to be working together on digging it out, also seen them chasing others away when they get to close, r they getting ready to breed ?
oh god maby we should have done the research before putting them in the tank, the local aquatics centre have said they will proberly take them for us.

 

[idlefingers]

Convicts will dig whether breeding or not, but it is breeding behavior. They'll get more aggressive if and once there's actually eggs and keep all other occupants at the other end of the tank.