Convict behavior

[FishyPastor]

I have a pair of convicts which are about 2 inches in a 29 gallon tank. There breeding in a little cave cannot tell the status of the eggs though. But I noticed when I'm doing water changes there attacking my hand. There to small to do any damage, but when they get full grown can they draw blood? Also what would be the best way for me to check out the status of the eggs? If I move the cave will that cause them to eat the eggs?

[Rollins4Miles]

I have a pair of convicts which are about 2 inches in a 29 gallon tank. There breeding in a little cave cannot tell the status of the eggs though. But I noticed when I'm doing water changes there attacking my hand. There to small to do any damage, but when they get full grown can they draw blood? Also what would be the best way for me to check out the status of the eggs? If I move the cave will that cause them to eat the eggs?


I'm not certain if they can draw blood or not. I guess that could really depend on the individual's skin texture. But I wouldn't worry about that so much. Any time my aggressive fish get near my hand when cleaning I just wave the syphon at them and it backs them down.

I wouldn't move the cave, just let things be. The parents should take care of the eggs. If things are going well then you should see a lot of fry swimming around the tank in no time.

[CassieLEO]

My male convict was about 4 inches when I got rid of him, and he would attack my hand when his mate had babies. He never drew blood, it was more like a pencil eraser hitting my hand

[Scrup]

I've had one catch my knuckle before and draw blood, but nothing serious. Still stings though. Usually its just a pecking feeling but if they get a grip, they can hurt. Convicts are serious about defending eggs by the way. Moreso than any other fish I have seen.

[FishyPastor]

Ok there are babies, there in the bottom of the tank free swimming. Any recommendation son feeding them? I need food for my angel fry anwya, can I use the same food?

[FishyPastor]

The convict babies are doing great. The mother jumped out of the fish tank I found her dead. But Daddy is taking good care of the fry. I was juts wondering if I need to take Dad out of there tank or move the babies? I have about 100+ fry.

[Scrup]

They will probably be just fine until one of the babies gets old enough to mate with.

Although I imagine you will lose some before then to ammonia poisoning. Start looking for someone to take them now. They grow fast.

[coolingeffect]

i bet angelfish wouldnt mind a snack of convict fry lol

[FishyPastor]

They will probably be just fine until one of the babies gets old enough to mate with.

Although I imagine you will lose some before then to ammonia poisoning. Start looking for someone to take them now. They grow fast.

Oki I will do that

[CassieLEO]

The convict parents will chew up the food and spit it out over the babies for them to eat too. Nature always finds a way I guess :D

[FishyPastor]

I was wondering I had angel fry hatch about the same time as the convict fry can I put all of the fry into the same tank by themselves?

[dimdim]

yup you can! but once they get to about 3/4 an inch seperate them.

[Ticklemekevin10]

What do people do with all those fry? I was thinking of breeding. Will LFS's give credit or anything like that?

[CassieLEO]

No LFS ive found want the fry. They breed so much that people think of them as nuisance fishies now, its sad. I ended up using mine's fry as feeder fish. Its basically all I could do. I looked EVERYWHERE for someone to take the babies too!!!

[FishyPastor]

Half of my fry are the normal color the other half are white. I was wondering if it would be easier to get rid of the white variants?

[Ticklemekevin10]

Sad day! What are some other fun fish to breed?

[Ticklemekevin10]

.... Of the sa/cent/na cichlid type