What's The Minimum Aquarium Volume For A Convict?

[Thomas 2507]

The title pretty much says it all.

 

[shelaghfishface]

great minds think alike, i was just about to post exactly the same question THOMAS- looks like you beat me to it, ill be watching your answers i just got 10 little ones and the same day they were due to arrive 3 days ago, my 4ft tank got smashed,so they are now in a 3 ft that looks more like a garden centre reject shelf with all the pots i have put in there so that they can have some sort of territory while i save for a new tank

shelagh xxx

 

[shroob]

Personally I would say 20 gallons for a lone convict. Although others could say less its just my view.

 

[Thomas 2507]

What about a pair?

 

[shroob]

29 gallons for a pair I would say, but the bigger the better. Some 20 gallons have the same footprint as a 29 gallon, so it depends on the actual tank.

 

[Thomas 2507]

What do you mean by footprint? I have a free 20gal...

 

[shroob]

Some 20 gallons are 24"x12"16" (LWH) while others are 30" x 12" x 12" (LWH). Footprint basically means the floor space a tank has, so its the length and the width of a tank. Obviously the 30" 20 gallons would be alot better for a pair as it provides more room, height isnt that important. These are what I would call minimum for a pair of convicts (though not in the 2ft tank, I think thats too small, but others may try it - I would only do it if I had a spare tank and observed them alot).

 

[dizzied]

The length x width is the footprint. The 29g and the 20-long are both 30" by 12", so they have the same footprint. The 20-high on the other hand, is 24" by 12", so they have a different footprint.

 

[Thomas 2507]

Oh right, mine is 24x12x14, so I don't think this would be okay, no?

 

[shroob]

Oh right, mine is 24x12x14, so I don't think this would be okay, no?

Might be ok for a single convict, but could be pushing it for a pair. I'm not saying its impossible, just you would have to watch out for aggression, have good filtration and have a backup plan incase one turns on the other (which could very well happen in a small space).

For a pair, theres also the problem of babies, which can be impossible to get rid of in some places, people end up using them as feeders (some people have cons for this very reason, but if it wasn't part of your plan its something to think about).

 

[Thomas 2507]

Yeah I think I'll leave this idea because my tank doesn't seem big enough. Thanks anyway everyone!

 

[Buslady]

I housed my first pair in a 20 tall, then they had babies...5 survived...they're in a 60g long tank...and omg...I need to rehome some, cos 5 more new babies survived from the first group of babies born in there. I got ..TOO many.

anybody want free fishies? SoCal..

I think a 20 long is good for young fish, but at least a 30 gallon tall or long is good for a pair.

 

[eire]

hello need help i have a trigon 190 litre tank, in it i have 6 zebia danios, 6 rummy noses ,1 common plec 3 inchs long i know he will get bigger not happy i like him,3 mollys,1 afican butterfly fish,2 sliver dollars,the water is good test every week done the cycle chand 25% every week real plants,i like to add more fish would u think i could as i am going to LFS now thank you