Convict

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 07:15 AM

Hi I am thinking about converting my semi empty tank into a cichlid tank. I am thinking about getting Convicts but i kinda want the tank to be filled. Its a 55 gallon so i was wondering if i could get like 6 convicts or would they just end up killing each other.
And I don't really want them to mate either so i was hoping 6 male convicts or 6 female convicts? or maybe another type of cichlid?

nathanbarry · 02-22-2008, 09:12 AM

Its fine about keeping convicts together...they are aggresive and so dont reallly get on with other fish. You would have to have a species tank

Clerk · 02-22-2008, 10:25 AM

After you have a pair, they will attack the other convicts, and everything else, So other things to keep with them is iffy. But I had heard use of dither fish such as tiger barbs, in tanks such as this, but.. I have also heard of convicts killing oscars 3x their size.

I would wait and get a good consensus from knowledgeable people

Nathan, don't talk about things you don't understand please.

emc7 · 02-22-2008, 10:54 AM

I think you would end up with a pair in one corner and then 100's of fry. Picking sexes when they are small is kind of iffy.

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 11:00 AM

ooo yeah i read some more about them and i really don't wanna deal with the fries so i think im going to go with Angelfish (5 of them).
I read they are suppose to be easy to breed (as in the do it themselves without me helping) so i was wondering if there were any fish that are compatible with them and would eat the fries(sorta cruel but oops)?

Clerk · 02-22-2008, 11:10 AM

The 5 angels would pair off eventually, and you would have to separate the rest, so they wouldn't be bullied or killed.

Many fish can be kept with a pair of angels, and many of which would be happy to eat fish fry and eggs. Such as most tetras, Platys, barbs, rasboras.

nathanbarry · 02-22-2008, 11:37 AM

Clerk, us two dont seem to be getting on..im sorry for the things i dont understand but thats why ive joined here.

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 11:46 AM

GAAAH sooo 5 Angelfish would be out of the question??? like DEFINately?
and im planning on getting 10 silvertip tetra and 8 Corys if the tank can handle the 5 ANGELFISH!

Clerk · 02-22-2008, 12:02 PM

Angelfish are still cichlids, if you have 5, you will likely get at least a pair. Usually after they pair off, they will fight the other angels. Its not a matter of a tank cant support the amount of fish, its just that they will fight, possibly to the point of killing each other.

emc7 · 02-22-2008, 12:49 PM

Clerk is right about the angels. If you can divide the tank with a divider or will a wall of plants so that the two sides don't see each other, you could have 2 pair of angels. Angels are only aggressive when they breed, but they can and do kill other angels and plecos if there isn't any place for the "driven off" fish to retreat to. Breeding pair of angels are in demand, so you could get young ones, raise them up, then trade the adults for more young ones when they start to pair off. Also look at smaller cichlids like Laetacara sp. or Dicrossus that defend smaller territories. An angelfish pair's territory is at least the size of a 20 gallon high tank.

Gourami Swami · 02-22-2008, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanbarry

Clerk, us two dont seem to be getting on..im sorry for the things i dont understand but thats why ive joined here.

What clerk is saying is that if you dont understand something, dont give advice about it because chances are it will be wrong. And thus is the case here.

To the original poster, Your best bet for convicts in a 55g would be to get 4-5 females, or 3 males. This would probably stop breeding and the agression that is associated with it. In my opinion you should get three males and a bunch of large characins like congos or giant danios as dither fish. If you go with the females there is still a chance they will mate.

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 02:49 PM

ok Sry for switching it up again, now im thinking about getting a Jack Dempsey and a convict.
I would like a male jack dempsey and i was wondering if there were anyway to sex a juvinile.

And i kno a 55 gallon for those two is kinda pushing it but...

nathanbarry · 02-22-2008, 02:54 PM

You are pushing it a bit...check out this link, it tells you some information on sexing jack dempseys.
http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/prof...ckdempsey.html

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 03:07 PM

Nice Site...
I don't think i'm gonna care what sex i get...the way i see it is
Female: they are Smaller and somewhat more docile[maybe] (maybe get a firemouth cichlid and a Convict)

Male: Bigger and more Colorful (just stick with a convict)

can i get the FM cichlid with the female?

nathanbarry · 02-22-2008, 03:10 PM

I should think so.

Id watch though because firemouth's can grow big and are aggressive and territorial.

Gourami Swami · 02-22-2008, 03:16 PM

A convict and a jack dempsey would be fine in a 55g. Sex doesnt really matter. Females have more coloration on their face.

karazy · 02-22-2008, 03:56 PM

personaly i dont like convicts because they breed so easily and they are so aggressive. they remind me of a big black aggressive guppy. but never the less they do have there pros too. if you wanted to you could make a nice looking tank with a few different kinds of smaller cichlids

fishbguy · 02-22-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanbarry

I should think so.

Id watch though because firemouth's can grow big and are aggressive and territorial.

again with the advise.

Firemouths get around 6 inches, hardly big IMO. They are less aggressive than many other cichlids, and all cichlids are territorial. FM's are some of the least aggressive of "medium large* cichlids.

fish4fish · 02-22-2008, 04:45 PM

lol ok well thank you everyone
I think I am going to pick up my convict and Jack Dempsey tomorow.
umm And then wait like 2 months or 3 and if it's a female i will get a Firemouth
Or can i get all 3 at once for my 55 gallon. its cycled already

Clerk · 02-22-2008, 04:55 PM

are there any fish in the tank atm, granted they would need to be moved. However, if their is not a source of ammonia in the tank, any bacteria will have died off.

02-22-2008, 07:15 AM	#1
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	Convict Hi I am thinking about converting my semi empty tank into a cichlid tank. I am thinking about getting Convicts but i kinda want the tank to be filled. Its a 55 gallon so i was wondering if i could get like 6 convicts or would they just end up killing each other. And I don't really want them to mate either so i was hoping 6 male convicts or 6 female convicts? or maybe another type of cichlid?

02-22-2008, 09:12 AM	#2
nathanbarry -~Fish Watcher~- Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 350	Its fine about keeping convicts together...they are aggresive and so dont reallly get on with other fish. You would have to have a species tank __________________ 10 GALLON 2 Orange Gourami's (2") 2 Zebra Danios (1.5") 1 Chinese Algae Eater (2.5") 1 Khuli Loach (2") 1 Albino Corydoras (1") 2 Mickey-Mouse Platies (1.5") 55 GALLON 4 Parrot Cichlids (4"-7") 3 Clown Loaches (3") 1 Common Pleco (4") 1 Pictus Catfish (6") 55 GALLON 12 Malawi Mbuna Cichlids (1"-5") 1 Convict Cichlid (2") 1 Common Pleco (3.5") 5 GALLON 3 Neon Tetra's (1") 2 Black Widow Tetra's (1")

02-22-2008, 10:25 AM	#3
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	After you have a pair, they will attack the other convicts, and everything else, So other things to keep with them is iffy. But I had heard use of dither fish such as tiger barbs, in tanks such as this, but.. I have also heard of convicts killing oscars 3x their size. I would wait and get a good consensus from knowledgeable people Nathan, don't talk about things you don't understand please. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

02-22-2008, 11:10 AM	#6
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	The 5 angels would pair off eventually, and you would have to separate the rest, so they wouldn't be bullied or killed. Many fish can be kept with a pair of angels, and many of which would be happy to eat fish fry and eggs. Such as most tetras, Platys, barbs, rasboras. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

02-22-2008, 11:37 AM	#7
nathanbarry -~Fish Watcher~- Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 350	Clerk, us two dont seem to be getting on..im sorry for the things i dont understand but thats why ive joined here. __________________ 10 GALLON 2 Orange Gourami's (2") 2 Zebra Danios (1.5") 1 Chinese Algae Eater (2.5") 1 Khuli Loach (2") 1 Albino Corydoras (1") 2 Mickey-Mouse Platies (1.5") 55 GALLON 4 Parrot Cichlids (4"-7") 3 Clown Loaches (3") 1 Common Pleco (4") 1 Pictus Catfish (6") 55 GALLON 12 Malawi Mbuna Cichlids (1"-5") 1 Convict Cichlid (2") 1 Common Pleco (3.5") 5 GALLON 3 Neon Tetra's (1") 2 Black Widow Tetra's (1")

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02-22-2008, 10:54 AM	#4
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,893	I think you would end up with a pair in one corner and then 100's of fry. Picking sexes when they are small is kind of iffy.

02-22-2008, 11:00 AM	#5
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	ooo yeah i read some more about them and i really don't wanna deal with the fries so i think im going to go with Angelfish (5 of them). I read they are suppose to be easy to breed (as in the do it themselves without me helping) so i was wondering if there were any fish that are compatible with them and would eat the fries(sorta cruel but oops)?

02-22-2008, 11:46 AM	#8
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	GAAAH sooo 5 Angelfish would be out of the question??? like DEFINately? and im planning on getting 10 silvertip tetra and 8 Corys if the tank can handle the 5 ANGELFISH!

02-22-2008, 12:02 PM	#9
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	Angelfish are still cichlids, if you have 5, you will likely get at least a pair. Usually after they pair off, they will fight the other angels. Its not a matter of a tank cant support the amount of fish, its just that they will fight, possibly to the point of killing each other. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

02-22-2008, 12:49 PM	#10
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,893	Clerk is right about the angels. If you can divide the tank with a divider or will a wall of plants so that the two sides don't see each other, you could have 2 pair of angels. Angels are only aggressive when they breed, but they can and do kill other angels and plecos if there isn't any place for the "driven off" fish to retreat to. Breeding pair of angels are in demand, so you could get young ones, raise them up, then trade the adults for more young ones when they start to pair off. Also look at smaller cichlids like Laetacara sp. or Dicrossus that defend smaller territories. An angelfish pair's territory is at least the size of a 20 gallon high tank.

02-22-2008, 02:49 PM	#12
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	ok Sry for switching it up again, now im thinking about getting a Jack Dempsey and a convict. I would like a male jack dempsey and i was wondering if there were anyway to sex a juvinile. And i kno a 55 gallon for those two is kinda pushing it but...

02-22-2008, 02:54 PM	#13
nathanbarry -~Fish Watcher~- Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 350	You are pushing it a bit...check out this link, it tells you some information on sexing jack dempseys. http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/prof...ckdempsey.html __________________ 10 GALLON 2 Orange Gourami's (2") 2 Zebra Danios (1.5") 1 Chinese Algae Eater (2.5") 1 Khuli Loach (2") 1 Albino Corydoras (1") 2 Mickey-Mouse Platies (1.5") 55 GALLON 4 Parrot Cichlids (4"-7") 3 Clown Loaches (3") 1 Common Pleco (4") 1 Pictus Catfish (6") 55 GALLON 12 Malawi Mbuna Cichlids (1"-5") 1 Convict Cichlid (2") 1 Common Pleco (3.5") 5 GALLON 3 Neon Tetra's (1") 2 Black Widow Tetra's (1")

02-22-2008, 03:07 PM	#14
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	Nice Site... I don't think i'm gonna care what sex i get...the way i see it is Female: they are Smaller and somewhat more docile[maybe] (maybe get a firemouth cichlid and a Convict) Male: Bigger and more Colorful (just stick with a convict) can i get the FM cichlid with the female?

02-22-2008, 03:10 PM	#15
nathanbarry -~Fish Watcher~- Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Midlands, England Posts: 350	I should think so. Id watch though because firemouth's can grow big and are aggressive and territorial. __________________ 10 GALLON 2 Orange Gourami's (2") 2 Zebra Danios (1.5") 1 Chinese Algae Eater (2.5") 1 Khuli Loach (2") 1 Albino Corydoras (1") 2 Mickey-Mouse Platies (1.5") 55 GALLON 4 Parrot Cichlids (4"-7") 3 Clown Loaches (3") 1 Common Pleco (4") 1 Pictus Catfish (6") 55 GALLON 12 Malawi Mbuna Cichlids (1"-5") 1 Convict Cichlid (2") 1 Common Pleco (3.5") 5 GALLON 3 Neon Tetra's (1") 2 Black Widow Tetra's (1") Last edited by nathanbarry; 02-22-2008 at 03:16 PM.

02-22-2008, 03:16 PM	#16
Gourami Swami Supreme Dictator For Life Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somewhere out Yonder... Posts: 1,102	A convict and a jack dempsey would be fine in a 55g. Sex doesnt really matter. Females have more coloration on their face. __________________

02-22-2008, 03:56 PM	#17
karazy bammin like salmon Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 563	personaly i dont like convicts because they breed so easily and they are so aggressive. they remind me of a big black aggressive guppy. but never the less they do have there pros too. if you wanted to you could make a nice looking tank with a few different kinds of smaller cichlids __________________

02-22-2008, 04:45 PM	#19
fish4fish More Fish In the Sea Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 16 Posts: 38	lol ok well thank you everyone I think I am going to pick up my convict and Jack Dempsey tomorow. umm And then wait like 2 months or 3 and if it's a female i will get a Firemouth Or can i get all 3 at once for my 55 gallon. its cycled already

02-22-2008, 04:55 PM	#20
Clerk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 462	are there any fish in the tank atm, granted they would need to be moved. However, if their is not a source of ammonia in the tank, any bacteria will have died off. __________________ Four Tanks 55 Gallon - Planted Display Tank 50 Gallon Nursery 20 Gallon - High-Light Planted Breeder 20 L Gallon - Newt Paludarium

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