Convict Breeding Question

[WARLOCKGP]

Would a pink convict and a regular convict breed???

[peifc]

Yes.

[ewok]

same fish, different paint job.....

the babies would be mixed tho, more than likely. i used to have a couple black breeders that would produce both types, probably because they had a pink in their ancestry. my current 2 breeding blacks only produce blacks (so far).

[WARLOCKGP]

GREAAAAAAAAAAT, i think they did. Cause my black female is guarding a corner so bad and the big poink one is always with her...........

[ewok]

sounds about right.

look around for a bunch of waxy looking little pinheads, the white ones are no good and will probably be eaten. if not eggs then you might see a little pile of wigglers..... it's like 3 days as eggs and maybe 3 days as wigglers..... then you'll see a cloud of them getting around. (assuming you have no predators.) they look like little gnats when they first start swimming.

if it's the "couples" first attempt there may be problems, it usually takes them a few batches to get things right. then they can become very prolific.

[WARLOCKGP]

Kool, i got a little baby breeder cage ready.............

This is so Great:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[WARLOCKGP]

THEY BRED, THEY BRED.................

I'm on my way to my LFS. The babies need food......................

[ewok]

food? :confused:

save your money, unless your breeding something really fancy, you really don't need it. i usually just feed my tank(s) with fry heavier with (regular cichlid) flake food. the parents will make sure they eat, and if they die, lack of food won't be the reason.

as far as the breeders net, mixed reactions. first off, i wouldn't attempt to seperate them until they are free swimming and by then it's a job. if you put them in a breeders net you might get lucky or the parents might just tear a hole in it. i've had jewels guard the net, but my convicts that i tried it with just ruined the net. i think i'd only seperate them if you have another tank and have something in the tank that will eat them and you want to keep them. otherwise, let nature take it's course, the parents are pretty much much better providers than you will be.

another thing to keep in mind is parental violence. if the fry disappear too quick you run the risk of daddy beating up and/or killing the mommy. this could be triggered by you removing the fry or something else (even the parents!) eating them.

good luck

[WARLOCKGP]

I pout them in a separate tank, should i put the parents with them as well? I'm grinding up flake food, is that good?

[ewok]

just watch the parents to see if they start fighting, if you have already moved them..... take the mother out for a few days or otherwise seperate the mother and father if they start fighting.

ground flake food should be fine.

[WARLOCKGP]

They are not fighting at all, actually she might have laid more eggs, is that possible? I think so cause they are protecting another corner where i have a live plant.

Thanks for all your help.

[ewok]

i doubt it. they are probably just guarding fry you didn't manage to trap. they just moved them to a "safer" place.

[WARLOCKGP]

I got a brine shrimp hatchery, should i feed the fry live brine shrimp or not?

[WARLOCKGP]

Originally posted by ewok
i doubt it. they are probably just guarding fry you didn't manage to trap. they just moved them to a "safer" place.

Sorry dude, but they bred again. This time i can see the eggs.............

[ewok]

the other fry must have been in there awhile before you noticed then.... i think the shortest time between breedings would have to be 2 or 3 weeks at least....

in any case...... good luck

they are prolific once they get started ;)

[fishlips]

Prolific! You got that right. Right around thanksgiving had fry but they ate them. More eggs appeared and have more fry going for a good two weeks now!

[firstlight10]

I would definetly recommend feeding the fry brine shrimp until they get large enough to take flake food (usually about 1/2 an inch long).