Convict(s) lose in community

[MXPX4318]

ok so I posted this in GD too but thought it'd get a bit more attention here maybe:

ok so here's the deal, as I said before I worked at one of my local petsmart (there are three) well the one across town got in some convict cichlids and one had babies, and they informed me that they could not sell the fry and could only GIVE them out to associates (so free fish ) right now they are about .75 inches and so I was thinking about getting 3 of them to put in my 29g temporarily, which is a community tank with 1 male sword 2 female swords 5 white skirts 1 skunk corie 2 panda cories and 2 otos, so since the cichlids are so small right now could I put them in there? The plan is for me to get a 30 gallon soon after christmas (febuary at the latest) so I'd like to move the fish from my 20g tank (6 rasporas 5 gold barbs 3 julii cories, 1 german ram) into the 30g and then the three convicts would be moved into the 20 gallon to live out the rest of their lives. so would this be a good plan? at what size would I have to get worried about these convicts being to aggressive for my 29g community tank (remember they're like month or 2 old fry that are about .75" at most) any advice would be great

Thanks guys,
Phillip

 

[mwm]

They might be okay, but they might not be its hard to say i had one in my 20g till it was about an inch and then i took it out and he hadnt cuased any problems. Im not going to tell you to do this though incase urs goes postal and ripps other fish appart

 

[freddyk]

They will most likely ignore the other fish until they become spawing size, at around 2". They will grow quickly though. If one of them decides that they don't, in fact, like their peaceful tankmates, it will be too late - there is always risk involved with aggressive cichlids, but cons tend to be quite unaggressive when not spawning or defending their young.

A 20 gallon is a complete and absolute minimum for convicts, of which the males should get to a meaty 6" long. I know that many people do it successfully, but I also know of many instances where a compatable pair turned on each other, fatally. Cichlids can be moody, and it's good to have some tank length to give them some reprieve from each other at these times, which the 20 doesn't allow for.

You'll be able to start with the 3, but once a pair forms the third will need to be removed soon or it will be killed.

 

[MXPX4318]

thanks freddy I was going to get three to make sure I got a pair, if they were going to be moved to a 20g alone I think it'd be nice to raise the fry and sell them to my lfs for a bit of extra money. So would one do ok by him/her self if I wanted to keep it in the 29g community tank do you think? As that's where I'd like to move the third unmated con... just a thought, if not then I can take him to my LFS and return him there.

 

[freddyk]

IMO, return him. Even if he works at first in the comunity, he will grow to a hefty 6" long, and even if he ignores the other fish the general stress levels of the tank will probalby be much higher just because of his presence.

 

[MXPX4318]

ok thanks freddy, I guess I'll return him then, with the stocking I listed above would I have room for 1 angel fish in that 29g? They are much more peaceful SA cichlid right?