Convict & Firemouth together

[jjw724]

Hi
I have a 20 Long Tank with one 3"Male Firemouth & one 2"Female Convict.
As of right now the Firemouth is the aggressor chasing & nipping at
the Convict.Will this always be the way or maybe with the reputation
of the Convict being one of the most aggressive fish,when she get's
bigger could turn & start being the aggressor towards the Firemouth.
Will these fish be able to get along or should i think about keeping one
speices or the other.I have also added plenty of hiding spaces for both.

 

[Ferris]

The 2 species can get along when kept singularly although i'm not sure about them being in a 20 gal. You really need something like a 55 gal for these fish.

 

[jjw724]

Thank You
But every one i talked to including my LFS said that a 30 gallon
is alright because max size for each is 6" but where i have my
tank located i had to go with the 20 Long 30x12x12 (Height Issue).
I am only keeping these 2 fish & nothing else.My filter is a Penguin 200.

 

[swampcat]

I think the fish will chase one another and even have some head to head combat. Will probably be alright ? Tank really to small, but may work. These fish can handle one another quite well, especially since the con is a female, she will stay smaller and is usaully a little less aggressive then a male. A firemouth is really cool when defending itself he will expand his gills and throat area with a brite red display. giving its name of course.

You will have to wait and find out for yourself though. Fish vary from one to another. What works for some becomes a disaster for another I have found with fish and their individual temperment.

 

[jjw724]

Yeah
I know i am probably pushing it with the 20 Long tank size but where i wanted to locate the tank it was my only choice.
I am doing very Frequent water changes & always checking PH,
Ammonia & Nitrate Levels.
As far as the fish go i just wanted to make sure the Convict being the
smaller of the fish would be Ok & handle the harassment the Firemouth
is giving her.
Thank You

 

[swampcat]

If these are the only two fish you'll have no problems with the bio load or water parameters. Just the possibility of territorial disputes.

The con is supposed to be the more aggressive, but it varies?

I have both, they fight once in a while no harm to one another.

I have one of each in a 55, and my son has one of each in a 20 long. No real problems.

 

[AllusiveLife]

(not trying to highjack this topic)

But I bought 6 baby convincts, 3 striped ones, and 3 pink ones; someone took in a batch that their Convicts had, and I ended up getting them for 99 cents each. Long story short, I have a 130-140 gallon tank, I redid the whole set up. I made it look like a lake by placing tons of huge rocks all over the bottom, and placing plants in between the rocks. These convicts are the size of a nickle, but I have them with Electric Yellow cichlids, Parrot cichlid, corry catfish, chinese algae eaters, tetras. And I know I shouldn't even mix the African with the American, but the cichlids in general don't even bother the tank mates that were there before them, and the parrot Cichlid bows down to the tetras(If anything they chase the parrot) but am I asking for trouble?