I Just Got Some Convict Cichlids!

[australia]

i just got 7 convict cichlids, they are white and have black strippes on them, i can see one of them starting to get a little colour on him it looks red!,

what would these convicts be? they are at around 5-7cm....

 

[funkyhoney]

Probably a mix of a few, they'd be the right size to start maturing; if I recall correctly (someone confirm please ) the convicts that get redish colouring are males, yet females get larger.

 

[PRW1988]

Sounds like your typical Black covict cichlids, they begin to get some red in the bellies (more so the female than male), they max out at about 4" and I highly reccomend not having them with anything communal or even Semi-agressive (unless the semi-agressive fish in question can hold it's own, such as RTBS's and Senegal Bichirs).

These fish are highly agressive when breeding and have been known to kill other fish if they come to close to the spawn pit, they are parental cichlids, meaning they will look after their young for a time.

As said, tank mates should be able to hold their own against these guys, they've been known to even give an oscar a good scare, Cichlid species should be their only companion (except Angelfish and Discus).

Hope this helps.

 

[australia]

Sounds like your typical Black covict cichlids, they begin to get some red in the bellies (more so the female than male), they max out at about 4" and I highly reccomend not having them with anything communal or even Semi-agressive (unless the semi-agressive fish in question can hold it's own, such as RTBS's and Senegal Bichirs).

These fish are highly agressive when breeding and have been known to kill other fish if they come to close to the spawn pit, they are parental cichlids, meaning they will look after their young for a time.

As said, tank mates should be able to hold their own against these guys, they've been known to even give an oscar a good scare, Cichlid species should be their only companion (except Angelfish and Discus).

Hope this helps.

here is a pic of one of the males i think!

 

[PRW1988]

More than likly, good luck with them and watch for breeding, once they do it once, they'll do it forever lol

 

[ibbledibble]

Probably a mix of a few, they'd be the right size to start maturing; if I recall correctly (someone confirm please ) the convicts that get redish colouring are males, yet females get larger.

actually you have that the wrong way round. the males get quite a bit bigger than the females and usually develop a lump on their foreheads. the females are smaller and have the red coloration. my males are about 4-5 inches and the females are about 3 but thats just approximate.
But as a warning. if you keep males and females together they will breed. not a case of if, but when and although this may sound like a good thing, you need to consider what to do with them. most LFS will not take many convicts as they are so common and easy to breed and they can be quite prolific. my LFS recommended using them as feeder fish while they are still relatively small.