Convicts an under rated cichlid?

[Brookfish]

Just wondering what everyones veiws were on the humble convict?
A hardy, easy to keep, breed and feed cichlid that is very under rated imo.
How would you rate them as a starter cichlid for someone starting out
in cichlids?
They can be a pretty fish as well, especially in breeding colours,
here's a few pics of mine ...


[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]



[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]



[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[btate617]

Nice pics Mike
I think they are a good beginner cichlid for anyone. People get into cichlids for many reasons, some to breed, some for the attitude, some for the looks.... I know lots of people who have gone out and got some of the harder species to keep then get disappointed when things don't work out and they lose their fish. With convicts more times than not a little water, a male, a female and there ya go. They get to see the attitude of cichlids along with great parents. Then the joys of trying to get rid of all those fry..... and very hardy, you almost have to take them out of water to kill em.

Brian

[btate617]

Not to steal your thread but has anyone tried Cryptoheros nanoluteus??
Cool fish also.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Brian

[Brookfish]

Not to steal your thread but has anyone tried Cryptoheros nanoluteus??
Cool fish also.

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Brian

Never seen those in these parts Brian, they are a pretty
fish for sure, are they rare in the hobby?

[btate617]

I don't know if they are rare, you could probably order them in. Probably won't see them at many LFS. I have not done them myself, seen them but couldn't bring myself to buy them, just another Cryptoheros that is out there.

[Brookfish]

I don't know if they are rare, you could probably order them in. Probably won't see them at many LFS. I have not done them myself, seen them but couldn't bring myself to buy them, just another Cryptoheros that is out there.

I agree, there are lots of other interesting cichlid species to try first, thumbs2:

[rageybug]

I like convicts a lot. Super easy keepers and they breed like rabbits. We had a tank with black convicts and pink convicts in it. We seemed to have a new fry every other week! We sold our fry to the LFS for store credit. Easy way to support this expensive hobby!

[Brookfish]

I like convicts a lot. Super easy keepers and they breed like rabbits. We had a tank with black convicts and pink convicts in it. We seemed to have a new fry every other week! We sold our fry to the LFS for store credit. Easy way to support this expensive hobby!

You were fortunate that your LFS took your fry,
most of mine end up as lunch for my other cichlids.

[rageybug]

We are in NW Ontario. Hard to get a good selection of fish up here and the fish we can get are very expensive due to the extra shipping expenses. The LFS is more than happy to buy local breeders fry to keep their cost down. We usually keep the fry in their own tank as soon as we can catch them so they don't get eaten.

[Kaga's Kritters]

I have always loved the look of convicts but never owned them. What size tank do you need for them? Would it be possible to keep a few in a 29gal tank?

[Hailey]

I have a tank full of convicts. They ae beautiful and are really fun to keep. I love watching them taking care of their fry. But it seems like I will be stuck with them forever! I just dont know what to do now.

[Sharon]

More gorgeous pictures! thumbs2:

Convicts certainly are pretty...

[Brookfish]

I have always loved the look of convicts but never owned them. What size tank do you need for them? Would it be possible to keep a few in a 29gal tank?

You could keep a pair in a 29g but any tank mate would be in danger
if they breed.

[Sharkman]

i would say they are very underrated. Tehy were my first fish ever and they bred of course

[Kaga's Kritters]

You could keep a pair in a 29g but any tank mate would be in danger
if they breed.


how do you tell male from female? if i got just males or just females could i have more in a 29g?

[Brookfish]

how do you tell male from female? if i got just males or just females could i have more in a 29g?

First pic is the female, they develop the orange colour on the belly,
last pic is the male, they get bigger and have a more pointed dorsal fin.
I would go with females rather than males as the males will fight over
territory eventually, thing is the females may not colour up just as
nice without a male in the tank.

[jamiepugh]

i love my convicts they lovely fish they in with a few other cichlid and have had fry but have never been to aggresive with my other fish

[Dave66]

You could keep a pair in a 29g but any tank mate would be in danger
if they breed.

That, in a rub, is why Convicts aren't as popular as they once were; that overwhelming aggression when they breed.

Dave

[fishbum]

I never really thought of them as underrated.I think they are great fish,as long as you keep them by themselves,or in a large tank.Both male and female have beautiful colors when breeding.That is the one drawback,all the fry.I recently had mine breed for the first time,thankfully I have plenty of other fish to feed the fry to.Great fish IMO.They can be kept in a fairly small tank,and you can see all the breeding and parenting behavior of cichlids.Just make sure you have a plan,or other fish to feed the fry to, if you keep a male and female.

[cocoa_pleco]

i like them, i bought a pair of white convicts which are rare from a closing stores display tank a couple years ago, bred them a bit, sold the male, then i kept the female in my 90g til she died from age. she was peaceful and just kept to herself

when they breed they are evil though, i had my female with my oscar in my old 50g long a long time ago, and the female laid eggs under driftwood without me seeing at first, she took on my 8" oscar at the time and almost won, and she was only a few inches long. i had to move her and the eggs to a 20g before she killed the oscar

[MCHRKiller]

Im a big fan of cons...they are wonderful cichlids and perfect for newbs just getting into american cichlids as they are hardy, personable and naturally breed like rabbits. I to feel that some hobbyist have sort of cast the humble convict asside due to its common place in the hobby...but they are beautiful fish in their own right. Here is a couple shots of my very own black male con...
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I raised this guy up to a lovely 5", gave him to my SO during my tank downsizing due to the fact that he wouldnt get along with my severum in the 100G. Hes named Mr.Pink...
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[rageybug]

I'd say that 29g is a good size for convicts. I would start of with only a few, maybe a male and a couple of females. If you load up the tank, you will have a major crowding problem once they babies arrive.... and they will arrive!

[fishbum]

That, in a rub, is why Convicts aren't as popular as they once were; that overwhelming aggression when they breed.

Dave
I have heard this is because the ones you buy at the LFS are actually hybrids,and that wild convicts,Archocentrus nigrofasciatus,only grow to around 4'' and are not nearly as aggressive as the ones most of us have.

[MCHRKiller]

I wouldnt have any doubt that most of the cichlids we buy in the trade are somewhat hybridized with other fish. Try to find a pure Trimac or Red Devil in the trade...its next to impossible. I know that I had one lovely convict some years ago it was a very large pink male that had a very large hump and looked just like a mini midas in shape and etc...it was also a highly aggressive fish that did all but kill a 10" oscar.

[aquakid]

convicts are great as long as your fish are at least double their size(14 inch oscars terrorized by 6 inch convicts)