Gender My Convict Again And Give Me Ideas

[onidrase]

After the mass death in my 37g due to horrible heating, I decided to move my good ole' convict to the 37g which I originally was gonna use for a community tank. So much for that.

At this point, it's about an inch and a half long, has gained a tint of orange to the belly (which is more defined some in some times than others. Sometimes it's not even noticable, but it depends on the mood.) and still does not have long pointed fins, which leads me to believe it's a girl.

I've read on a few websites, though, that sometimes males have a small tint of orange to the belly, so I'm not really sure. I've also never seen a really young cichlid wit long pointed male fins

In regards to behavior, it has a bit of a temper, as predicted, and all I've been able to keep it with without a lot of chasing and bickering aside from other larger cichlids are tiger barbs and catfish. It also really likes to dig in the middle of the tank with no real noticeable goals set.

Anyways, I'll take some pictures if needed, but what's your diagnoses on this one's gender based on the information given?

Also, how large to females -usually- get? What should I diet it with to make sure it's getting healthy nutrition to grow to full size and keep a good color to it? Oh, and maybe some tank mate suggestions?

 

[snake007]

Sounds like a female since Ive never seen a male with orange, Post up a pic if you can?
Females usually around 10cm, Males 15cm.
Vary their diet between cichlid pellets, flakes, shrimp, blood worm, live worms/shrimp.
My cons love frozen-thawed green peas, also they love the odd green bean.

 

[onidrase]

Sounds like a female since Ive never seen a male with orange, Post up a pic if you can?
Females usually around 10cm, Males 15cm.
Vary their diet between cichlid pellets, flakes, shrimp, blood worm, live worms/shrimp.
My cons love frozen-thawed green peas, also they love the odd green bean.

I've got some freeze dried brine shrimp, "Omega One" Cichlid flakes, and tropical flakes on me for right now. Is the freeze dried stuff gonna be any good for it? Should I pick up pellets as well or will just the flakes be alright?

The LFS was recommending I feed it nothing but beef heart till it's able to eat live fish then feed it nothing but live fish, but I took that as a big no-no.

 

[snake007]

Flakes will be alright but Im sure cichlids appreciate pellets, Feeding beef heart it good for them but im not sure on just feeding them that I dont think convicts really eat live fish, and thats a bad diet.
Convicts are omnivores and will eat anything that can fit in its mouth so I think a big male con would probably eat a tetra neon but I wouldnt feed mine that, I fed them my molly fry but thats about it for live fish feeding.

 

[kribensis12]

Beef Heart is very controversial because Discus breeders wear by it but it's been proven in some cases to be very bad for fish. I wouldn't feed often if at all. Pellets aren't much different from flakes except for they hold the nutritional value better.

 

[onidrase]

Here are the best pics I could get, like I said, the orangeness seems to depend on its mood. In these two is not all too visible.

 

[onidrase]

Flakes will be alright but Im sure cichlids appreciate pellets, Feeding beef heart it good for them but im not sure on just feeding them that I dont think convicts really eat live fish, and thats a bad diet.
Convicts are omnivores and will eat anything that can fit in its mouth so I think a big male con would probably eat a tetra neon but I wouldnt feed mine that, I fed them my molly fry but thats about it for live fish feeding.

I figured as much. They said the same thing about feeding severums and kribs. Given, I didn't buy any beef heart anyway.

 

[kribensis12]

It looks like a female convict.