Convict Questions -?-

[Demi ^_^]

Hello all!

I have been thinking of what types of fish I want for when I eventually get my tank (In a week or so!) Anyways, I am currently interested in convicts and have a few questions about them:

- Is their behaviour differences in females and males? Is one more active then the other, ect?

- How much space do they need? I am getting a 40-50 gallon hopefully, would their be enough space for 2?

- Do they really get 6 inches? 0.o

Thankyou ^_^

~ Demi :11:

[Harls]

Size: 5-6 inches (15cm) full grown males; females an inch or two smaller
Tank: At least 20 gallons, 25 per mated pair (24 inches)
this was taken from http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile58.html

[Harls]

they go good with oscars

[Demi ^_^]

Thankyou Harley! But you know I'm not terribly 'fond' of oscars, yours hides all the time, lol! Is their behavour differences in your male and female?

[Harls]

Well The Female is very sheepish and my osacr is always swimming round in circles at night :)

[Demi ^_^]

Well The Female is very sheepish and my osacr is always swimming round in circles at night :)

Sheepish, eh?

About the oscar are they nocturnel or something? Your oscar seems to be very active at night, from what you tell me *winks*

[TowBoater]

I would step up to the 55 and you could keep 5 or so in there with proper filtration and such but prepare for lots of fry.

[Demi ^_^]

Will 2 males or 2 females do okay together? Mum is not wanting any babies >_< I was thinking of having 2 convicts and maybe a few little fish, would that work?

[Fishguy2727]

I would get females. They are much more colorful. I have three black females and two pink females in my 40high and the pinks have so much orange it is up into their dorsal fins. The blacks get the metallic orange on the belly, but also metallic green, blue, and yellow in their fins.

[Harls]

well with little fish they will give you colour for about..........5 mins :P:P:P

[Harls]

i have an idea!!! buy a male and a female and telll ur mum that they are both the same sex but then........

[Demi ^_^]

Thankyou guys! I guess I'll go for 2 females then ^_^ Apart from oscars, what other fishies would get along with convicts?

[Demi ^_^]

i have an idea!!! buy a male and a female and telll ur mum that they are both the same sex but then........

Hehehe maybe I should do that, lol!!! But you already have a whole batch of little convicts, so If I bred, no stores would want them because they would already have yours!!!

[cocoa_pleco]

you would have to try other semi agressive cichlids like firemouths, i have a white pink convict in my 90g with a oscar, green terror, pacu, jack dempsey, blood parrot, severum, needle fish, african knife, catfish, etc. and noone fights

[Harls]

ya great great a Pacu with a convict. thats a 6" fish and a 40" fish :P

[Pr0eve]

I have 3 females and 2 males convicts in my 55G/4ft tank and they do very well.
the females act just like females, "bossy" lol.. and allot of nice Cichlids will do great with them. Convicts are some of the lesser aggressive Cichlids.

[krisisdog]

I dunno about convicts being of the less aggressive cichlids, when they breed they are savage, I've seen them hand an oscar and other 8"+ cichlids a whooping.

[TowBoater]

Severum does good with them. Jacks do good. Featherfins do good.

[Incredulous_Ed]

maybe 2 or 3 female convicts and 3 fire mouths

[Demi ^_^]

Thank you guys!!! I think I'm going to go with the, er, "bossy" females, lol. I told my father and he's okay with it, as long as I pay, hehe. I think I'll look up somewhere on the web what 'Jacks' and 'Featherfins' are, because i have no idea! :11:

[Demi ^_^]

:11: So many names! I'll have a look at 'Fire mouths' too. Lol. Thanks again ^_^

[cocoa_pleco]

jack dempseys are large cichlids named after the boxer jack dempsey, featherfins are like catfish

[TowBoater]

Firemouths are another cichlid that gets about the size of a convict and CAN interbreed so it's not a good mix if you don't want them to spawn.

[Demi ^_^]

Oh, okay ^_^ Harls_Aussie helped me find a really cool site about many types of fish, here it is if other's need any help:

http://elmersaquarium.com/000tropfishcareguides.htm

And here is the stuff I learnt about convicts and their 'room mates'

http://elmersaquarium.com/c106community8firemouth.htm

~ Demi :11:

[TowBoater]

Thats a great site to use although many fish they have that are compatible with are not, most are. What kind of other fish are you wanting?

[Demi ^_^]

Well I have ALOT of trouble with deciding, but I like the way the rosy barbs are (They seem so active ^_^) Here are some of the fish out of the list that I may consider keeping:

- Rosy Barbs; They are cute and active <3
- Red Devil; I like the look of them, but I may not have the room for one of those 0.o
- Black Ghost Nife; I have a thing for them, but again I may not have the room for it and 2 convicts 0.o
- Bristlenose catfish; They are soooo cool!!!

Of course I'm not saying I want ALL those fish, its just what I would 'prefer' out of the list.

Would any/all these fish get along with convicts? And would a larger fish fit with 2 convicts?

~ Demi :11:

[TowBoater]

Bristlenose is all I see you could keep, the others well the rosy barbs would get ate and the other two would get to big.

[Demi ^_^]

Hmmm, okay thanks! I am glad I can get a Bristlenose though ^_^ Someone posted earlier and posted a couple of fish that I'm looking up now....

So would these fish get along with the convicts?

- Jack Dempsy
- Green terror

And how many do you recommend altogether in a 40-50 gallon tank?

Would their be enough space for this?

- 2 Convicts
- 1 Bristlenose
- 1 Jack Dempsy
- 1 Green terror

Thanks again and sorry if I'm a bit confusing :11:

[Harls]

i'd pick i jack dempsey or 1 green terror and the rosy barbs are ok with convicts just try to get them about the same sizeas they grow about the same size

[TowBoater]

I agree, either one jack OR one green terror and I still don't think barbs are good with convicts and if you get a jack or terror then they for sure ain't.

[crackatinny]

The fact that you have a lot of trouble deciding is a good thing really. it means you are doing your reseach and dont want to make common mistakes:thumb:

[TowBoater]

The fact that you have a lot of trouble deciding is a good thing really. it means you are doing your reseach and dont want to make common mistakes:thumb:


DITTO ON THAT!!! That is very true, thanks for doing that.

[Demi ^_^]

Thankyou! I think I'll get 2 Convicts, 1 Jack Demspy and 1 Bristlenose. :11: