Convicts And Brackish

[jonny5]

so i came across this article a while ago http/deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51532/1/Oldfield_Saltwater_Cichlids_2004.pdf, and while kirbensis and the jewel cichlid are listed as salt tolerant freshwater fish, i was wondering about convicts.
They are small, robust, breed easily and seem to show no signs off stress when reaching a ppt of 10 (according to the article but they used a different solt no sodium choloride).
Any evidence to support or disuade convicts being kept at under 1.005sg?

 

[nmonks]

Yes, convicts can tolerate slightly brackish water. But what's the point? They're incredibly poor community fish, and the only things they mix well with are (larger) Central American cichlids, in which case keep them in a Central American cichlid set-up.

Cheers, Neale

 

[jonny5]

ah i gotcha, ya i always knew they were a popular and readily available aquarium fish but i did not realize they were so aggressive till after further ready. Ty neal.

 

[nmonks]

To be honest, I simply don't understand why convicts remain in the trade. They lack the size and colours of the wild fish, they're aggressive, and they breed like crazy so you inevitably end up with hundreds of fry that are difficult to sell. Convicts aren't a major feature of the UK trade nowadays, thank heavens, but there do seem to be a lot of them in the US trade, even being sold as fish for beginners!!!

Do look at the excellent Honduran Red Point, a convict-relative with much better colours and a more easy-going personality. Do be prepared to pay a bit more for the real thing though, rather than cheap hybrids, as they do cross-breed with convicts very readily. You might also try the equally worthwhile Rainbow Cichlid, a surprisingly peaceful and very colourful Central American species that should thrive in a low-end brackish system even though it isn't a brackish water fish per se. Again, do make an effort to source good specimens, not inbred siblings dumped at a pet shop by some inept local breeder. Good specimens are very colourful fish.

Cheers, Neale

ah i gotcha, ya i always knew they were a popular and readily available aquarium fish but i did not realize they were so aggressive till after further ready. Ty neal.

 

[minnnt]

+1 for HRP's and Rainbows... Both extremely attractive fish. But Rainbows will enjoy any plants you may have.

 

[jonny5]

To be honest, I simply don't understand why convicts remain in the trade. They lack the size and colours of the wild fish, they're aggressive, and they breed like crazy so you inevitably end up with hundreds of fry that are difficult to sell. Convicts aren't a major feature of the UK trade nowadays, thank heavens, but there do seem to be a lot of them in the US trade, even being sold as fish for beginners!!!

Do look at the excellent Honduran Red Point, a convict-relative with much better colours and a more easy-going personality. Do be prepared to pay a bit more for the real thing though, rather than cheap hybrids, as they do cross-breed with convicts very readily. You might also try the equally worthwhile Rainbow Cichlid, a surprisingly peaceful and very colourful Central American species that should thrive in a low-end brackish system even though it isn't a brackish water fish per se. Again, do make an effort to source good specimens, not inbred siblings dumped at a pet shop by some inept local breeder. Good specimens are very colourful fish.

Cheers, Neale

ah i gotcha, ya i always knew they were a popular and readily available aquarium fish but i did not realize they were so aggressive till after further ready. Ty neal.

ah the rainbow cichlid is quite neat but funny you should mention the honduran red point, i saw some at my LFS and i was like woa those are convicts? and it was then explained that they were honduran red points and the owner liked them so much he took the display tank with them home for himself, quite gorgeous fish.