Just got some convict

[DKiM128]

I just got some convicts, and I need advice.
Got these pictures off http://www.angelfire.com/my/fishpage/convicts.html

http://www.angelfire.com/my/fishpage/femaleconvict.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/my/fishpage/maleconvict.jpg

My fishes look exactly like them. I need advice as their name, what to feed them, should I use heaters or any filtration and The darker one keeps chasing the whiter one. I thought the darker one was the male, but the website says the lighter ones are the male. But the darker one is bigger and bossing around the lighter one.

[Mystroe_TheMyst]

Wheres optix when you need him to spill info about convicts.

first of all you should definatlye have filtration, aswell with your heater at about 26'C or 78-79'F.

Yes the whiter ones tend to be male but the male is also more stocky. If you look at the fin structure..the suposed male should have very long very pointy dorsal and anal fins.

reguarding the darker one...does it show any yellow/orange colouration like in the picture(left)? if so it would be a female. And its not always the male which bully convicts are known for there aggression and willingness to stand up for itself.


This lil girl is a female see the colouration?
http://www.angelfire.com/my/fishpage/fcongreetguy.jpg

[DKiM128]

Hm....I seem to have another problem. The guy I got these from said they had ick on them before. I think they have it still. There seems to be white things on the edges of their fin. What is the best way to treat that?

[ChilDawg]

That sounds more like fin rot. Please Google that and see if that's the correct diagnosis.

[DKiM128]

Yes, I agree its fin-rot. They are placed in a clean 15 gallon tank. They all seem to be on the bottom of the tank. I was wondering how would I let them explore the upper half of the 15 gallon tank. ANd what plants should I get for them.

[ChilDawg]

They are inveterate diggers, so any rooted plants would be at great risk...

[DKiM128]

Is fin rot contagious, Cause I wanted to move some of them back to their tanks of friends. And decided I won't risk it if they are contagious. And how can I stop some of the bullying? Or is it okay for them to bully each other, I don't want to create unneccassary stress.

[ChilDawg]

Here's the thing: their stress level (which is the first thing to take care of when disease is present, IMHO) will be too high in a 15g tank. You need a larger tank for even an individual Con.