Convicts and tiger barbs

[flash]

Thinking of a pair of convicts for the future. Will they go in with the tigers? I've been googling most the morning and it seems to be a possibility.

As you can see from the signature the tank's pretty active and boistrious...

Anyone got a set up similar or had experience mixing convicts and tiger barbs?

Input muchly apprieciated

 

[snowyangel]

Though they do have the same grumpy attitude, in the long run those barbs will become lunch for the adult convicts, especially in breeding mod they wont last very long.

 

[flash]

Is there an alternative cichlid that would be suitable?

 

[snowyangel]

Yes, you could go the route of dwarf cichlids(like rams) which arent as aggressive or grow as big or a larger cichlid(5 inches) that's very mild mannered is keyholes(i own 7).

 

[digital_run]

I definately agree with snowy angel....while tigers and Convicts could work in a large tank...i would still hesitant towards it as Cons can be very mean and tigers cannot match that kind of aggression. I have kept Tigers and Keyholes together with no problems at all. good luck!

 

[parker313]

I had 2 convicts in with my tiger barbs when I had a different tank. It was not a breeding pair, just 2. They got along just fine!

 

[flash]

I can see where your snowyangel is coming from, confirms my concerns. Will look into Keyholes

But Parker has had different experiences... wot size was your tank Parker and how old where the cons? I wasn't necessarily planning on a breeding pair as it would be almost impossible to keep the barbs away from the fry.

 

[dirtydogg]

I wasn't necessarily planning on a breeding pair as it would be almost impossible to keep the barbs away from the fry.

I think mommy and daddy would have a say at that.

 

[digital_run]

While some may be lucky with mixing cons like parker...its always a gamble...Idealy if you couldnt provide a species tank then cichlids with the same temperment/size would probably be the best bet.

 

[parker313]

I had a 35 hex tank. 6 tiger barbs. The 2 cons were still relatively small, I'm not sure how old they were. I guess I just lucked out and got mellow cons Plus I think the height of the tank really helped each kind of fish find it's own "layer".

 

[flash]

I wasn't necessarily planning on a breeding pair as it would be almost impossible to keep the barbs away from the fry.

I think mommy and daddy would have a say at that.

lol

 

[flash]

had a look at Keyholes, they seem very subdued compared to other cichlids. Are they maybe too shy that they will be intimidated by the tiger barbs?

 

[Jason_S]

flash, you want to add the cons to the tank in your sig right? which is 260 Liters and 260 Litres = 68.6922060766 US gallons. a pair of convicts should be just fine with a big school of tiger barbs. for one thing, there's plenty of room in the tank for the tiger barbs to outswim the cons...which they will do. cons are quick compared to larger cichlids making them good target fish with larger cichlids. however, tiger barbs should easily be able to outswim a convict. the barbs will give the male con something to chase around when they start breeding, but I really don't think he'd be able to catch the barbs to be able to hurt them.

 

[freddyk]

I think the cons would be fine with a large school of tiger barbs. The idea is to have enough barbs that the cons are pretty much overwhelmed and won't bother with them, except for half hearted chases, or full force chases from their breeding ground. The tank should be big enough.

If you are looking for something milder in temperment, firemouths and nicaraguans both have nice tempers, will work well with the barbs, and are, frankly, much prettier then cons, IMO. They're also not tiny like dwarfs, so they won't get lost in the tank.

 

[snowyangel]

had a look at Keyholes, they seem very subdued compared to other cichlids. Are they maybe too shy that they will be intimidated by the tiger barbs?

Yes keyholes are timid and shy but if you give them enough shelter(rocks, driftwood, caves) and security, them come out all the time. If you buy your keyholes larger than your barbs, i'm sure they wont mess with them(especially when the keyholes reach their 4 inches+). Also the keyholes will spend their time near the bottom of the tank while the barbs will school in the middle of the tank. If you're worried about intimidation, well i wouldnt worry. I have an 11 inch pleco sharing the tank with my keyholes and they're very much used to him(i can show u pics of them near eachother). They only time they get scared is if you come barging into the room or hit the tank by accident, otherwise they are a very curious fish.