What's Up With These Convicts?

[blitztidus]

I have a breeding pair of one black convict and one pink convict and the normally the fry live for a week and then disappear. They both take responsiblity of them and everything in the tank is fine, They just disappear. I keep looking forward to a bunch of calicos but they always disappear and then the parents lay more eggs.

 

[valleyrich]

How big are these convicts, what is the water perameters, tank size, decorations, tank mates. I've had this happen for many many reasons.

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

They eat the babies after a week or so usually. For my pair, i dont have the space for the babies so i let the parents eat them or i use them for feeders.

 

[blitztidus]

params have been fine, the tank is 15 gallons, they are both about an 1 1/2 -2 inches, no tank mates, some slate, a fake plant and a clay pot. I have raised convict fry before and in the same conditions and they were fine. Actually, the female, the black convict ,is one that I raised.

 

[Genesis]

a pair needs a 30gal minimum!!

 

[blitztidus]

Sorry it is a 25 gallon tank, but the last time I raised fry it was fine and all lived happily ever after. REALLY. They are really tiny for parents and I remove the parents when the fry are 1/2 to 3/4 an inch and they are all fine and healthy today.

 

[valleyrich]

Ok I get it now. The parents are a little small to be expending the energy to raise a clutch of eggs. They will probably continue to eat them until they get a little bigger. I wouldn't even concern myself with it until the parents are 2.5" min. They know they would kill or nearly kill themselves trying to raise fry right now so they are eating them. Why waste perfectly good food right? This is quite normal. No worries.

 

[valleyrich]

My husband mentioned last night that you may wat to try increasing the food for the parents as soon as they lay. This may help keep them from eating the fry. Worth a shot at least.

 

[blitztidus]

will try, they just layed more today. THANKS