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View Full Version : A few convict questions...


hemostrat
03-29-2010, 05:56 AM
Hey everybody!

So, I finally got my tank set up today after a few too many months of laziness and it just sitting on my desk. Anyway, I've been re-reading all my convict information, jogging my memory of all the work I did over the summer, but I still have some questions. This is a 30g by the way.

First, lighting. At the moment, my tank doesn't have a top (I would cover it with chicken wire to make sure they didn't jump out) and therefore no lighting. I moved the tank next to my window (and in the spring its very sunny in Ashland until about 7 or 8). Is this enough light for them? I read if I have low light to remove plants and have more shelter/rocks for them to hide around. Would this work?

Second. Number. I haven't gotten a definite answer on how many I should have in the tank. I've heard multiple times that a single pair is fine (especially when they breed), but one of my friends has about six in a 30g and they all do fine. Now, I wasn't thinking that many but perhaps two females and a male? Maybe three females and a male? What about a tank full of females (maybe five then?). I've read that females can even go through the ritual of mating with other females, that'd be interesting to see.

Ummm... I believe that's it, for now at least. I just started cycling my tank today. Unfortunately I don't have any ammonia to add to my tank so that has to wait until tomorrow -_-

Anyway, thanks for your time guys.

Northernguy
03-29-2010, 02:21 PM
I am surprised to hear that your freind has so many in a 30gal.
A pair is best because when the fish do decide to spawn,no other fish in the tank are very safe.
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Talk to a few hear that have breeding cons and find out more.

Brhino
03-29-2010, 03:52 PM
fish tank in window = mountain dew colored water, in my experience. If it's a window getting direct sunlight you've probably got TOO MUCH light.

Piscine
03-30-2010, 12:28 PM
I have a breeding pair of convicts in a 55 gallon, and I had to remove everything that moves. Even my large snails caught hell when they got close to their little house and had to be removed.

They attacked anything that entered the water, including my hand. They are not scared of anything, no matter how big and mean, when it comes to the fry.


I'd say a definite NO on putting the tank in the window. Buy a light and an outlet timer and be done with it.