Convict With Tetras?

[Oddities]

I'm wondering if a convict would (or i guess should) be able to go in a 29 with cory's and tetra's. I'm thinking of redoing my 29 with something not as shy as my firemouth but I dont want all my tetras and corys going belly up. I'm also thinking about bolivians or other dwarf cichlids so throw your suggestions out.

 

[snake007]

I would go with bolivians instead of convicts, generally convicts are well behaved, but I would not keep convicts with corys, and it depends on the tetra really.

 

[onidrase]

I'm wondering if a convict would (or i guess should) be able to go in a 29 with cory's and tetra's. I'm thinking of redoing my 29 with something not as shy as my firemouth but I dont want all my tetras and corys going belly up. I'm also thinking about bolivians or other dwarf cichlids so throw your suggestions out.

It's possible, more likely with a female convict than a male. But it depends on the personality of the fish. If you give it a shot, you'll want deeper bodied, larger tetras like black skirts, red eyes, and bleeding hearts.

At the moment, I keep a male convict with a firemouth, 5 khuli loaches, 9 black skirt tetras, and 5 red eyed tetras. Though he's only in there temporarily (the firemouth is the permanent resident, they won't get along forever in the small tank size), he hasn't caused any problems thus far. My tank is basically a taller 29 gallon, by the way.

However, I've got a psychotic female convict which is being kept in her own tank, since she tries to bite the eyes out of other fish and chases them mercilessly otherwise.

Ultimately, it's possible, but might not work out. Be sure to add the convict last, and that you buy it small, so it'll be used to all the tetras and possibly won't pay them any mind.

I would go with bolivians instead of convicts, generally convicts are well behaved, but I would not keep convicts with corys, and it depends on the tetra really.

I'd put convicts pretty far down on the list of "well behaved" fish. They're notoriously aggressive, and love to rip things up and redecorate if they get bored. I'd also feel safer about cories than I would tetras, cories are armored catfish, generally unbothered by aggressive fish, and if they are bothered, chances are they aren't gonna be physically hurt by it.

I'd say it's possible to put a convict in a tank of cories and tetras, with caution.

 

[snake007]

Well I did say 'Generally' not always, both my cons were nightmares and still are.
Ive heard of rams digging out eyes on cory cats, so i'd imagine convicts would do worse.

 

[onidrase]

Well I did say 'Generally' not always, both my cons were nightmares and still are.
Ive heard of rams digging out eyes on cory cats, so i'd imagine convicts would do worse.

Generally means usually. I've only seen like 2 or 3 cases of convicts to be pretty docile. So generally isn't a good word for them. "possibly" would be better. Since individual fish tend to have different temperaments, we try to give advice based off of popular trend. Some fish may tread off of the trend of temperaments, but that's just how fish work.

Following that statement, saying convicts are generally behaved is like telling a person that wants rams in a tank with larger tetras and a few catfish that "rams generally are overly aggressive and will try to bite the eyes out of cory catfish" which is also not the case. Rams have a reputation of being pretty peaceful with fish of other species. Sure, there may be some bad eggs of the bundle, but I'd still recommend rams as peaceful fish for a community tank.

 

[Oddities]

I would be basically switching the firemouth in my 29 who is pushing 5 inches for a ~1 inch convict baby if i went convict. The problem with dwarfs is id have to have the lfs order one and this idk if hed be willing to just swap, where as i might be able to just trade my firemouth for a baby convict.
Bad camera phone pic of the tank that I managed to snap with the firemouth out. Idk if that helps but thats about the decor I'd be using.
http/i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g428/Philnominal/45ec0923.jpg

 

[onidrase]

I would be basically switching the firemouth in my 29 who is pushing 5 inches for a ~1 inch convict baby if i went convict. The problem with dwarfs is id have to have the lfs order one and this idk if hed be willing to just swap, where as i might be able to just trade my firemouth for a baby convict.
Bad camera phone pic of the tank that I managed to snap with the firemouth out. Idk if that helps but thats about the decor I'd be using.
http/i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g428/Philnominal/45ec0923.jpg

I'd try for a female, they tend to make better community fish than the males do. But like I said, it depends on the temperament of the individual. Imo, don't try for it unless you have a place to remove and rehome the convict if he gets too aggressive.

 

[Oddities]

I have a 75 i can drop it in temporarily and have another 29 that im not entirely sure what im going to do with it yet.

 

[onidrase]

I have a 75 i can drop it in temporarily and have another 29 that im not entirely sure what im going to do with it yet.

Give it a shot if you really want to go for it, then. I have a convict with black skirt tetras and red eye tetras right now, but he's still a little guy. He's just in there for now grow a bit before I try my luck on breeding him with my female.

 

[Oddities]

I think ill see if the lfs can get any dwarfs in instead but if not I may give it a shot. Which of the dwarfs would be best? I was thinking Bolivians/Kribs/Apistos but have no experience with any of them.

 

[onidrase]

I think ill see if the lfs can get any dwarfs in instead but if not I may give it a shot. Which of the dwarfs would be best? I was thinking Bolivians/Kribs/Apistos but have no experience with any of them.

Any of the ones you just said would be fine. Kribs are a tad more aggressive than other dwarves, bolivians IME are great little guys, full of personality and never all too shy. I don't know a lot about apistos, as they've never been carried around here.

Just avoid any dwarf cichlids that prefer or require different water conditions than your own, like German Blue Rams, which like the water at a toasty 82 degrees.

 

[Wills]

Glad to see you have moved away from the Convict - seemed a bit of an odd choice to go with the other fish IMO.

A hareem of Apistos would work or a group of Cupids. Panda Apistos are always nice

Wills

 

[Oddities]

Glad to see you have moved away from the Convict - seemed a bit of an odd choice to go with the other fish IMO.

A hareem of Apistos would work or a group of Cupids. Panda Apistos are always nice

Wills

Convict wasn't really my first choice, i just wanted to know if it would work, and if i went that route I would be able to seperate it should it get to aggressive until I found a new home for it. I'll probably see about th bolivians then. If i did go apisto how many would you suggest and wouldnt they try to defend the tank from the corys/tetras?

 

[Wills]

In 30 gallons its not too bad for Apistos - I would go with 1 male 3 females in there. They will claim territory but shouldnt be a threat to the other fish.

Wills

 

[Oddities]

As soon as I start to think of passing him on he decides to get friendly. lol and well i cant pass him on anymore. He is just to beautiful a fish imo.