Have Had A Fish Dumped On Me

[Athel]

Hi. Not sure if this is the right place to put this but couldn't see anywhere obvious for it to go. I was pointed to this forum by someone on a dog rescue forum I use and was told you were a helpful group.

One of my neighbours brought a fish round to me today (aparently the whole street has heard about my menagerie!) and asked if I wanted it as it was attacking his fish and if I didn't take it he was going to flush it down the loo so I took it.

We took it to my local pet shop that sells fish and is very good (I thought he might be able to take it) - he has identified him* as a convict cichlid but said he could not take him as he doesn't have an empty tank and can't keep him with other fish. He was in a tiny ice cream tub my neighbour brought him round in but I have bought a heater and have set up an old tank I had when I had more axolotls. I've had goldfish when I was younger but have never kept tropical fish before. Ideally I'd like him to go to a home where someone knows about these fish but if not I am prepared to learn so any advice greatfully received. I have the temp set at 24 degrees, put a water safe thing in when setting up the tank, have all the testing kits so can keep an eye on nitrate/nitrite/ammonia levels and have some fish flakes that the pet shop owner gave me for him. I haven't set up a filter or air stone in the tank yet as my spare filter is at school (I'm a teacher). If anyone is interested in giving him a home I live in East London but do have a car and am happy to transport him within 60 miles.

*I'm saying he but that is based on reading something that said males stripes were lighter as his stripes seem a bit dull.

 

[Confish]

how big is he/she? you can easily tell if its female or male as the female with have an orange colouring to its belly and the male sometimes has a hump on is head and has longer fins. also they are quiet hardy fish and dont go for much as they breed like rabbit but i still love them though.

 

[fishnovice]

Hi. Not sure if this is the right place to put this but couldn't see anywhere obvious for it to go. I was pointed to this forum by someone on a dog rescue forum I use and was told you were a helpful group.

One of my neighbours brought a fish round to me today (aparently the whole street has heard about my menagerie!) and asked if I wanted it as it was attacking his fish and if I didn't take it he was going to flush it down the loo so I took it.

We took it to my local pet shop that sells fish and is very good (I thought he might be able to take it) - he has identified him* as a convict cichlid but said he could not take him as he doesn't have an empty tank and can't keep him with other fish. He was in a tiny ice cream tub my neighbour brought him round in but I have bought a heater and have set up an old tank I had when I had more axolotls. I've had goldfish when I was younger but have never kept tropical fish before. Ideally I'd like him to go to a home where someone knows about these fish but if not I am prepared to learn so any advice greatfully received. I have the temp set at 24 degrees, put a water safe thing in when setting up the tank, have all the testing kits so can keep an eye on nitrate/nitrite/ammonia levels and have some fish flakes that the pet shop owner gave me for him. I haven't set up a filter or air stone in the tank yet as my spare filter is at school (I'm a teacher). If anyone is interested in giving him a home I live in East London but do have a car and am happy to transport him within 60 miles.

*I'm saying he but that is based on reading something that said males stripes were lighter as his stripes seem a bit dull.

I live in SELondon near Deptford and would be happy to adopt him. I have a cichlid tank with 2 girl covicts who would love a boyfriend!You can bring him round tonight or tomorrow night,

 

[Wills]

Hi welcome to the forum! Sounds like your in a bit of a pickle! But fear not because I can see quite an easy route to take with it if you want to keep him or her, first of all can you post pics so we can sex them males grow bigger than females and with cons its quite easy to sex them. The stripes might be dull due to stress, its more by belly colour and length of fins.

How big is the tank you have now? Until you can get a filter for them keep up on daily water changes and then when you get your filter get your neighbour to give you a cutting of his filter media and that will be able to give you a kick start and possibly cycle your tank. Ideally if you can get a tank of about 20 - 25 gallons he will be okay in there and you could even get a few tank mates. Convicts are quite nasty but natural fish for them to live with are things like swordtails, so if you got 1 male and 2 females they will start breeding then and the tank will look quite active the convict will enjoy the fry as food as well so you wont be inundated but check with your LFS to see if they will take in babies when you need to move a few on.

Hope thats helped
Wills

 

[Athel]

He's probably about 2 inches long and I can't see any sign of orange.

 

[fishnovice]

He's probably about 2 inches long and I can't see any sign of orange.

Red or orange colours tend to appear on female cons when they are courting/breeding. Neither of my adult 3in girl cons (striped and albino) has any red on her but they are on their own with no male. best way to tell is by length and shape of fins. Males don't always have bumps on their heads either

 

[Athel]

Ok, so I'm really slow at typing replies and missed two new ones while I was replying to the first!

Fishnovice if you would like him that would be great, my husband is stressing a bit at the thought of another tank/cage/hutch/dog bed! It's probably a bit late to get to you tonight but I can drop off tomorrow night.

Wills, thanks for the advice - sadly my camera cable is awol so can't get a photo. My tank is 60cm x 30cm x 40 cm, not sure how many gallons that is.

 

[Wills]

I think I would take up fishnovice up on his offer if you cant keep him, he knows his stuff and has awesome tanks

But if you were to keep him your tank thats a 20 gallon which is probs at the lower end of the needs of the fish but still doable.

Wills

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Athel

Welcome to the forum!

You must be a very kind person to go to all this trouble for a fish. Even if you find a new home for it, I do hope you will visit us regularly. We do have a very nice pet's section here.

 

[fishnovice]

I think I would take up fishnovice up on his offer if you cant keep him, he knows his stuff and has awesome tanks

But if you were to keep him your tank thats a 20 gallon which is probs at the lower end of the needs of the fish but still doable.

Wills

Took in the alleged male con tonight. On arrival it turned out to be something else entirely, probably a malawi. How could her lfs possibly have mistaken it for a convict? It's nothing like them -I despair of pet shops!Internet search suggests it may be a peacock cichlid some kind of Aulonocara. The poor fish is currenttly in a heated bucket -dare not put it in cichlid tank with female cons and jewels till I'm sure it's safe for both new cichlid and my own cons. Will it be OK with them? Internet research suggess Peacocks are wimps as Malawi cichlids go and my eldest jewel is pretty mean and challenges the larger girl cons.