Convicts Breeding?

[welly]

As i am new to this hobby, please bare with me on this.....

I have a convict cichlid and an albino convict/zebra cichlid ( not sure which)
They have just recently got territorial with each other at the side of some bog wood. They are chasing everything away from this area and i have just today noticed that there are some eggs on the side of the bog wood.
The black convict appears to be fanning the eggs The albino ( or marble, zebra convict???) is moving the gravel and seems to be warning all fish away.
My questions are as follows

1.Which is the male and which is the female???
2.Is it possible for 2 different fish types to mate??
3. What sould i do to protect them, If anything??
4. Should i change food to help them or is this a daft question?? ( they are on cichlid flakes)

I apologise if they seem daft questions, just excited and would like to give them half a chance,

Any help would be much appreciated

Many thanks

Paul.

 

[rossyt99]

Hello,
First question is...Which other fish are in tank??

Convicts will become very,very aggressive to any other fish at breeding time and if it's possible to remove the other fish it would stop them getting a beating! (+eggs may have better chance of surviving)

Yes, the Albino can mate with normal Convict> the female is probably fanning eggs, although they will alternate at chasing duty.

I found Convicts to breed regularly once started, and if the fry survive you'll have a lot to tend with. (100's)

The eggs may get eaten at first few attempts, but they will keep breeding often.

If you can, place a 'divider' in tank to protect others + eggs in short-term time. (e.g; a plastic sheet with small holes pierced in)
Fry food includes; Baby brineshrimp, finely crushed flakes, crushed baby pelletts, Liquifry (No.2-I think?)

Good luck.

 

[rossyt99]

Also, the Males will usually have longer pointy bits on there fins and a bigger fore-head.

 

[rossyt99]

Also, the Males will usually have longer pointy bits on there fins and a bigger fore-head.

Foodstuffs;
+ Frozen Bloodworm is a good-quality addition for Adults and they lurrrve it! (+Frozen Tubifex, Daphnia....TetraPrima)

 

[welly]

Hello,
First question is...Which other fish are in tank??

Convicts will become very,very aggressive to any other fish at breeding time and if it's possible to remove the other fish it would stop them getting a beating! (+eggs may have better chance of surviving)

Yes, the Albino can mate with normal Convict> the female is probably fanning eggs, although they will alternate at chasing duty.

I found Convicts to breed regularly once started, and if the fry survive you'll have a lot to tend with. (100's)

The eggs may get eaten at first few attempts, but they will keep breeding often.

If you can, place a 'divider' in tank to protect others + eggs in short-term time. (e.g; a plastic sheet with small holes pierced in)
Fry food includes; Baby brineshrimp, finely crushed flakes, crushed baby pelletts, Liquifry (No.2-I think?)

Good luck.

I have firemouths and malawi, i think. they all appear to be keeping thier distance now.

I am suprised they are breeding because they are only 2 inch long so only young but i guess thats normal. They have dug a massive hole now so i guess things are progressing, not sure how long the eggs have been there so not sure when to expect to see fry.

I want to change a little of the water but didnt want to disturb them too much.

 

[rossyt99]

Alright,
I had Firemouths aswell when Convicts bred and it got pretty 'hairy' at times> If you can get a spare tank or at least place a divider in there, it would be advisable.

Mine were also 2in. when started and I think the fry take 3-4 days to emerge if they survive. The parents may eat the eggs if they feel they are threatened/ as it's first time attempt. (But will lay more soon...)

+ Provide plenty of oxygen (Airstone) for the eggs/fry.

>If LFShop have no dividers, I used a Condensation tray cut to fit, with small holes pierced in.

Good luck.

 

[welly]

I will try and get a divider tomorrow, ive noticed over the last few hours that the female has taken all the eggs from the edge of the wood in her mouth and headed to the bottom of the hole she has dug, i think she has maybe moved them there, although because it is to the rear of the tank i cannot say for sure if she has moved them of just eaten them.There is only 1 egg that i can see left on the wood but both parents have spent all thier time in the nest....interesting stuff!!

 

[rossyt99]

I will try and get a divider tomorrow, ive noticed over the last few hours that the female has taken all the eggs from the edge of the wood in her mouth and headed to the bottom of the hole she has dug, i think she has maybe moved them there, although because it is to the rear of the tank i cannot say for sure if she has moved them of just eaten them.There is only 1 egg that i can see left on the wood but both parents have spent all thier time in the nest....interesting stuff!!

Hope they have moved em' to a more secure place (sounds like it-hole dug)

P.s; Convicts are one of the most willing spawners of the Central/S.American Cichlids.

 

[welly]

It looks as though the eggs have been eaten....gutted!!

The black convict has dug a very big whole and the albino is doing the usual guarding, maybe preparing to start again??

Heres a pic to show how they are getting on..