Convicts!

[birdys.stirling]

Hi,
I have two pairs of convicts, they are in a tank which is divided into two tanks, and there are a pair in each side. The divider is see through.

My question is each time the pairs spawn they eat their fry, is this because its their first clutch or is it a long term problem?

Should i remove the fry next time and put them in a grow out tank?

Could the see through partion be causing them to eat the fry because they can see the other pair?

Thanks.

 

[seanie112]

hi there when i had convicts ie breeding pair and when they breed i used to remove the fry every 2 or 3 wks if i didnt they used to eat them within that time normaly every 3wks then breed again good luck hope this helps

my friend just got a pair convcits and they eat the fry before they hatched this was the first time they breed..

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Is your tank in an area where there is a lot of movement, or do you fret around more than usual when there is fry in there??.... You could also be right about it being their first brood...

Convicts are usually excellent parents and will breed in community and even manage to raise some of their fry in a community tank..... They'll probably breed again next week, but take care not to do anything out of the ordinary.... I'm sure you'll have success as they become more mature parents.....

 

[shroob]

Being so close to another pair may put them under additional stress so they eat their young. Though for first time parents this is quite common, knowing convicts they will breed again very soon so I wouldn't worry too much.

How big is the tank out of interest?

 

[fishyfreak]

Convicts usually only eat their fry if they have reason to do so - genetic defects or inability to protect them. You might want to try either removing the male after hatching as the female typically cares best for the brood, if this fails then just remove the fry or get a breeder net and raise them separately.

 

[seanie112]

my old pair of convicts used to breed every 3/4wks i used to take out nearly all of the fry leaving around 10 or so fry left in the tank then they used to breed again they used to be in a tank on there own no where near another tank
not got them any more tho .

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Convicts usually only eat their fry if they have reason to do so - genetic defects or inability to protect them. You might want to try either removing the male after hatching as the female typically cares best for the brood, if this fails then just remove the fry or get a breeder net and raise them separately.

On average, a brood of convicts count more than 300.... Please use a seperate tank for this purpose if you decide to go that way, but not a breeding net.....

 

[fishyfreak]

Convicts usually only eat their fry if they have reason to do so - genetic defects or inability to protect them. You might want to try either removing the male after hatching as the female typically cares best for the brood, if this fails then just remove the fry or get a breeder net and raise them separately.

On average, a brood of convicts count more than 300.... Please use a seperate tank for this purpose if you decide to go that way, but not a breeding net.....

Yes, thank you for that correction. Breeding nets can be useful but are only for short term housing.

 

[birdys.stirling]

Is your tank in an area where there is a lot of movement, or do you fret around more than usual when there is fry in there??.... You could also be right about it being their first brood...

Convicts are usually excellent parents and will breed in community and even manage to raise some of their fry in a community tank..... They'll probably breed again next week, but take care not to do anything out of the ordinary.... I'm sure you'll have success as they become more mature parents.....

Convicts usually only eat their fry if they have reason to do so - genetic defects or inability to protect them. You might want to try either removing the male after hatching as the female typically cares best for the brood, if this fails then just remove the fry or get a breeder net and raise them separately.

Hi, Ludwig,
There isn't a lot of movement, but i have been checking more often than usual as the other pair ate the fry.

Fishyfreak, yeah this could be one problem, its the males what eats them not the female, with my other pair i saw the male actually eat one i thought he was just going to spit it back into the pit but he didn't.

Being so close to another pair may put them under additional stress so they eat their young. Though for first time parents this is quite common, knowing convicts they will breed again very soon so I wouldn't worry too much.

How big is the tank out of interest?

Hi the tanks are 18inches long by 18 by 12 is this too small?

The fish are only about 2 to 2.5inches long so only babies at the mo.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

It is a bit small for Convicts, but if a Convict wants to breed,.... they will not be put off by that.... I would however suggest thet you do not test their tollerance & remove the devider, & keep the most prolific pair on their own (in the whole tank)... if you have space to move the others to....

 

[birdys.stirling]

It is a bit small for Convicts, but if a Convict wants to breed,.... they will not be put off by that.... I would however suggest thet you do not test their tollerance & remove the devider, & keep the most prolific pair on their own (in the whole tank)... if you have space to move the others to....

Thanks, Ludwig.

This morning when i looked in the tank the fry were back so i guess the parents must have moved them without me knowing.

 

[shroob]

Is the tank 18" long by 18" wide by 12" high? Unusual dimensions if so. A pair of convicts MIGHT work out in that tank, but definately not two, I would rehome one pair and free up space for the remaining pair.

 

[birdys.stirling]

Is the tank 18" long by 18" wide by 12" high? Unusual dimensions if so. A pair of convicts MIGHT work out in that tank, but definately not two, I would rehome one pair and free up space for the remaining pair.

Hi,
Its 18 long, 18 high and 12 wide. The tank overall is 36inches but is divided into two and theres a pair in each side.