Good Tankmates For Convicts

[backley420]

i have 50 gal tank. 2 small convicts- 1 small GT and 1 samll Oscar.. Should I trade in the Osacr?

what would make the best tank mate for a pair of convicts?

 

[poopsydrew]

i have 50 gal tank. 2 small convicts- 1 small GT and 1 samll Oscar.. Should I trade in the Osacr?

what would make the best tank mate for a pair of convicts?

The oscar needs at least 75 gallons and I would also rehome the gt as he will beat up on the convicts.

Drew

 

[backley420]

well what can go well with convicts?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

If you want to breed convicts they should be kept in their own tank. They will try to kill ANY other fish in your tank...and you can't fit anything big enough to stand up to them in a 50 gal.

 

[poopsydrew]

Once you get all the stocking figured out I think the only thing that would fit in with the convicts would be some dither fish or a smaller kind of plec suchh as a bristlenose. How about some Silver Dollars or Giant Danios?

Drew

 

[backley420]

I dont want to sound like an idoit but what's a dither fish?

 

[idlefingers]

A dither fish is a fish that is used to make other, more timid fish feel safe. They see the dithers out swimming and figure that it's safe and so will come out more.

I think what poopsydrew is referring to is actually called target fish. Target fish are hardy, fast fish which can be kept with aggressive fish to give them something to chase and take their aggression out on. The idea is that the target fish is faster and more agile than the aggressor and so will easily get away. It gives aggressive fish an outlet rather than fighting with other aggressive fish.

 

[poopsydrew]

A dither fish is a fish that is used to make other, more timid fish feel safe. They see the dithers out swimming and figure that it's safe and so will come out more.

I think what poopsydrew is referring to is actually called target fish. Target fish are hardy, fast fish which can be kept with aggressive fish to give them something to chase and take their aggression out on. The idea is that the target fish is faster and more agile than the aggressor and so will easily get away. It gives aggressive fish an outlet rather than fighting with other aggressive fish.

Yes true but I would argue that the fish I mention are dither fish/target fish. Depending on your stocking, especially if you have more than one cichlid, it is most likely that one is going to be less aggresive/timid and those fish do help make it feel secure and provide a target for aggressive fish aswell. I guess its just a technicality, so sorry if I am being picky with words.

Drew

 

[backley420]

Are Silver Dollores fast?

 

[idlefingers]

Yep, silver dollars are pretty fast. They'll be fine with cons, but would still get a beating when the cons breed. They grow quite large, though. they also need to be in a shoal of 6+ and enjoy a good swimming space. So, in my opinion, a 50g is a bit small for silver dollars.

Yes true but I would argue that the fish I mention are dither fish/target fish. Depending on your stocking, especially if you have more than one cichlid, it is most likely that one is going to be less aggresive/timid and those fish do help make it feel secure and provide a target for aggressive fish aswell. I guess its just a technicality, so sorry if I am being picky with words.

Drew

fair point. I didn't think of it that way.

 

[backley420]

I've heard a lot about tin foil barbs. Are they any good?

 

[poopsydrew]

I've heard a lot about tin foil barbs. Are they any good?

When they are small They get way too big, I think they max out at the least 13 inches and they grow very fast. You would need a huge tank for some of those.

Drew

 

[idlefingers]

tinfoil barbs get to 12" and need a lot of swimming space, so a 50g is definitely too small for them.