Convicts

[new fish lover]

I have a 55 gallon with 4 convicts (2 male,2 female) I think anyway. I have had them for 3 weeks and have not seen any breeding activity to date.

I also have a 35 gal with a med size breeding pair. Currently I am waiting for the eggs to hatch. I have had these fish for about 1 week. (Rescued these guys from impending doom, tank and all).

Eventually I think I would like to add some other fish to these two tanks. Preferably something that would eat some of the convict fry.

Does anyone have any suggestions??

 

[EX-AmP]

hey, cons like to spawn in caves. try changing the temp to around 80-82 degrees and water changes and some good food. if that doesnt work, try the leave the tank completely alone for a week or 2 method...it works

 

[guppymonkey]

If you want something to take care of some of the fry try getting a pike cichlid or an oscar. You would probably have to have a huge tank or a separate tank though because I have heard that convicts are amazingly aggressive when breeding and can take on large fish.

 

[David]

Another slightly larger cichlid like a JD or green terror would work well. Don't count on it eating any of the fry though... most fish know better than to wander near a breeding pair of cons and their young.

 

[Blacky]

The ideal way to go is 1 male per 3 female this calms down the male a little and they like to choose there partners. Lots of caves or timber cause they like to clean a surface before spawing. Your will know when the are getting ready to spawn cause the will pick a rock or wood or cave and chase all other fish away from it and gard it while one cleans and bites or straches the rock in praperation for spawning.

 

[Vip]

(2 male,2 female) I think anyway. I have had them for 3 weeks and have not seen any breeding activity to date.

The way to tell males to females are the female have Orange on the bellys and the males do not have this, they also dont grow as large.

 

[willywonka099]

The way to tell males to females are the female have Orange on the bellys and the males do not have this, they also dont grow as large. [/quote]
Is that for pink or black convicts ???



to your question a pike cichlad would LOVE to eat the fry but I don't know if it would tempt the parents .......... do you have any other fish that would eat the fry that you could distribute too ?

 

[David]

The way to tell males to females are the female have Orange on the bellys and the males do not have this, they also dont grow as large.

Is that for pink or black convicts ??? [/quote]
Both as far as I know.