Convicts/severum 2/1 Split

[AGrimes89]

Heading through to dundee to house of pisces for the first time on tuesday. I have my heart set on a pair of convicts and a severum, or a pair of severum and a convict. Any advice which way to go? Im favouring more for the former. Also does anyone have any experience with this place? How much can i expect to pay? And am i likely to find what im looking for? I have a 275 l tank. Thanks folks

 

[balajake]

I can't help you with convicts except to say they are mean little beggars and they go after fish much larger than themselves. Severums are fantastic fish I have 7 lol. What kind are you After ? Green and gold are fairly cheap and easy to get hold of. I have a super red spotted that's in my photo. Red spotteds are quite hard to get and I paid £40 for her at 6 inches. I have 2 f1 Belem severums that cost me £12 each at 3 inches and 4 rotkeils that are 1.5 inches and cost £6 each.

Severums are quite placid fish but small fish will be seen as a meal when they get large. Convicts can be had for about £4 at any pets at home store

 

[AGrimes89]

I know all about convicts in theory and have read that severums can be good tank mates as they know how to look after themselves. I quite fancy the gold ones. Either that or a jack dempsey, another option.

 

[balajake]

Hopefully some convict owners can steer you right.

 

[micko]

If you don't want a load of fry that you can't get rid of then get two female convicts.
Severum all the way. Rotkeils are my personal favourite. Green sevs are more aggressive IME. Golden are placid but if any breeding happens as with any cichlid things can go from calm to crazy.

 

[AGrimes89]

Ok thanks for that folks, i shall have a look when i get there, and consider my options.

 

[AGrimes89]

Ok so today i settled on a white convict pair and a rainbow cichlid pair after a good chat with the owner. I may be classed mad for this desicion but already i am facisnated watching the convicts. Plus the owner has promised to exchange any juveniles for store credit. Overall the guy was very knowledgable, showed me the quarintine zone through the back. He also gave me £4 off which was great. A LOT of choice, if a few suspect cramped conditions for some larger fish. All in all i would definetly recommend this place

 

[balajake]

just to let you know that rainbows need a significant amount of veggie matter in their diet. you could feed Peas and food that contains Spirulina

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/food/fish_flakes/tetra/37609

this food might be good to feed them as it contains spirulina. another member may be able to advise a different one to that one.

 

[AGrimes89]

just to let you know that rainbows need a significant amount of veggie matter in their diet. you could feed Peas and food that contains Spirulina

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/food/fish_flakes/tetra/37609

this food might be good to feed them as it contains spirulina. another member may be able to advise a different one to that one.

Brilliant thanks, just had a look at that link , didnt know about that, the rainbows not being one i had really researched into. All new fish are only around 1 1/2 inch long at the moment , with the male convict not far off 2. Convicts giving chase now and again, but nothing that looks too aggressive yet.

 

[onidrase]

Ok so today i settled on a white convict pair and a rainbow cichlid pair after a good chat with the owner. I may be classed mad for this desicion but already i am facisnated watching the convicts. Plus the owner has promised to exchange any juveniles for store credit. Overall the guy was very knowledgable, showed me the quarintine zone through the back. He also gave me £4 off which was great. A LOT of choice, if a few suspect cramped conditions for some larger fish. All in all i would definetly recommend this place

from what I know about rainbow cichlids, they are fairly peaceful and like to be kept in groups of 5+. I don't have any personal rainbow experience, though.

My female convict (nearly full grown now) has killed a jewel cichlid and a couple yellow labs that I inherited with my 75 gallon (all larger than her) and has bullied other convicts into corners. My male is a little more peaceful, but he still asserts his authority against my firemouth, severum, and green terror, even though he's the smallest of the bunch.

Overall, I don't think convicts and rainbows are good species to mix with each other. I might be wrong, but in my experience, my two convicts are a handful by themselves, I'm pretty sure if they paired I wouldn't have any fish.

 

[AGrimes89]

Cheers mate i will keep a close eye on them and remove to my other talk if necessary. Seem to be doing good just now but i know how quick it can change.