can a pair of cons be kept in a 20H?

[latazyo]

well I tried to get away with a jack dempsey and a pair of breeding cons in my 75, but it just cant happen, my female got torn up, so she's in a recovery tank and I have come to the conclusion that now (Jack is bigger and not a baby anymore) they will not get along

can I move my pair to a 20H that I have, they will be the only fish in there (except for their fry)

thanks in advance, hopefully I can do this, because I dont want to go buy another tank...huhet

[optix]

I don't wanna say you can and I don't wanna say you can't. Thats pushing it. A 20 long I would say yeah with no question. A 20 high though??:confused: Thats a bit rough to decide. Give them plenty of hiding places and I'd say you'd be ok.

[latazyo]

well...the mated pair will be the only fish in the tank...there is room for a few caves, etc, and I have the cave that she always lays her eggs in, they are fairly comfortable together, hehe...been together since december 02

alright, any other opinions? Im hoping to be able to use a tank I already have instead of buying a 30g or something, I have the recovering female in the 20 by herself, but the male and the jack are going back and forth, so it's time for the male to join his beloved wife

[Jayhawk]

I'd move that male in quick if they're a mated pair - you don't want to break the pair bond. If the pair bond isn't already severed, and the female always stood up for herself with the male - I think you'll probably be OK.

My experiences with cons, even a mated pair, in a 20 long were not hot, but lots of other folks do cons in 20s so YMMV.

Eric

[ewok]

you sure it was the dempsey?

from the sounds of it you moved the fry and cons have been known to kill each other when there's a failed breeding attempt. the males bigger so usually he's the victor, he harasses and kills the female. the fry disapearing could trigger that......

i'd go 30 or larger, especially if they're mated. you're going to need some dither fish sooner or later. otherwise you're liable to be missing a female.

[peifc]

Well, how big are your cons? Like some of you guys mentioned...many cons got to only 3". 20 gallons will not be so bad for 2 cons that are 3". If your cons are bigger than 3"...well, I will say...upgrade the tank...and sell the 20 gallons.

I got a big tank from Ebay. It is used, but heck...my fish are happy and got plenty of space. I saw many 100 to 250 gallons tank on Ebay site. Man...made me wanted to get one, but I have to think about space in my apartment :p

[latazyo]

alright, my female is 2" and my male is 3", the jack is now the same size as the male, as he is growing much faster (obviously)

the pair has mated at least 10 times since december, and I suspected the jack because now that the female is out of the tank, the male con is defending the remaining fry like it's his job, he chases the jack around the tank and forces him into hiding and lets him out only to feed...I think I have a devilish pair of cons, because although there was ample hiding places for everyone, they seemed to think the 75 was theirs and only theirs :D

due to the males protectiveness of the fry, that is what led me to believe it was the jack dempsey that attacked her in the first place