tank mates for breeding convicts

[Dahlia]

I have two pairs of breeding convicts in a 90 gallon. I am about to return the 7 juvenile severum I was keeping with them temporarily, move the corydoras to another tank, and probably move the bristlenose as well, since it hides even more than is normal for a pleco due to the aggressive nature of these convicts.

This will leave me with a 90 gallon that has 4 convicts, fry (which I will feed to other fish or return to the pet store for credit), and 3 upside down catfish... although the convicts are interesting, this makes the tank look fairly empty.

These convicts are pretty territorial and each pair has claimed one side of the tank. I do not think I can keep another mated pair of cichlids, or any mated pair of fish, with them. What tank mates can stand up to grumpy convicts? So far my only idea is a school of danios. But I'd rather have some larger fish with them if it is possible.

They seem to leave fish alone if they are swimming in the upper regions of the tank, so fish that rarely visit the bottom are a good bet. Any suggestions?

[NickH]

You could try silver dollars, bala sharks or tinfoil barbs. Keep in mind tinfoils and balas grow to over a foot. The standard 90 is a pretty tall tank, so they should have plenty of "fleeing room."

[Dahlia]

Do hatchetfish or butterfly fish do much other than hover around the top of the tank? How fast a current do hatchets need? Mine is reasonably fast but not the equivalent of a stream. Also, I keep getting conflicting info about butterfly fish being brackish or fresh?

I don't think I'd go with tinfoils or balas, as I like to keep reasonably large schools and I feel like these would be too big when full grown. I'll look up the size of silver dollars.

[blitzen25bm]

Originally posted by Dahlia
So far my only idea is a school of danios. But I'd rather have some larger fish with them if it is possible.


get the giant danios then, they get to a good size without getting too big. i would try a butterfly fish they just hang out at the top. i think they would do ok in fresh but if the convicts decide to attack its pretty much dead. i dont think they want too much of a current though.