Need Help On Convicts

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Hi could any one help i was thinking on purchasing convicts. Do they need special rocks i know they like caves but what would the water etc need to be like. thanks any comments would be good......

 

[RadaR]

Hey,
No they dont need special rocks. Go down to your local fish shop and pick out the rocks you like and that you think you can assemble into caves. Convicts can live in a wide range of water parameters so long as they arent in the extremes. pH of 6.5 and up to 8.5. General hardness is best at moderatly hard but as long as its not really, really soft you should be fine. These guys are so tough and fun

 

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Thanks for your replie RadaR very helpful if i buy fry how long would it take for them to grow thanks...

 

[RadaR]

Grow full size or big enough to breed?
To grow full size it would take about 4-5 years.
To grow to breeding size it would take approx a year. Ive heard of convicts breeding at 1 inch, crazy.

 

[DarkEntity]

As with all Cichlids Convicts will defend their territory if encroached by other cichlids or any other fish it feels is a threat, especially when breeding.

 

[SamUK]

As with all Cichlids Convicts will defend their territory if encroached by other cichlids or any other fish it feels is a threat, especially when breeding.

yea thats a real important factor when considering convicts.


there viscious little buggers when there protecting there parents and will take over a good portion of your tank.



apart from that and if there kept with tough tankmates then there an awesome little fish.


fascinating to watch them.

 

[sandraje75]

Hi could any one help i was thinking on purchasing convicts. Do they need special rocks i know they like caves but what would the water etc need to be like. thanks any comments would be good......

hi there with mine I have a manmade cave I bought from LFS and also 2 large peices of volcanic rock (has holes throught it like swiss cheese) with a phingle of slate balanced over the top if the rocks.(when she laid the eggs they were upside down on the slate and in the nooks of the rock.
The fry are now a month old and I have moved them to another tank cause dad was getting beaten up by mum all the time, I also find it easier to do more frequant water changes in the smaller tanks(as they grow I seperate them again and again till they are ready for LFS, if you were in Australia I would offer you some of mine...