Convict spawn :D - urgent question

[Ballyhoo]

I know these fish spawn like it's their job but this is my first time ever having any fish lay eggs. I want to move the little family, the eggs are on the underside of a fake rock, to an already establish 30L tank. They will be the only ones in the tank and will be safe ( as will the other fish ). I am very excited and really want to try to raise the fry.


if it is possible to move the family, how do you suggest I go about doing it?

[GuppyMan]

If you move only the eggs you can artifically rear them. But, the chance of the parents eating the eggs is a lot higher if you move them.

[Ballyhoo]

well they would have had to have been moved spawn or not, I realized they had spawned when i went to move them..... So I really hope they don't eat them but from what I've heard convicts spawn like mad

[GuppyMan]

yes, they will spawn ALL THE TIME! Usually about every month. Some pairs will kill off the current batch when the next is coming, because in the wild, the fry would naturally be kicked away. But in a tank, that doesnt really happen lol. And some pairs, will wait for more babies and even some will raise more then one batch together.

[Vicious_Fish]

I agree with Guppy. If you move them the parents are most likely to abandon or eat the eggs. But it's worth a try. Even if they do eat them there will probably be another batch laid in a few weeks.

So what are you plans with all these fish if they do hatch? Got anything to feed them to? :D

[Ballyhoo]

well after i moved the family I tilted the structure to show Daniel the eggs, and low and behold she had laid more.....

I'd like to keep a few, some friends want some, but when the keep spawning I have a couple silver dollars, a Severum, a blood Parrot and Red Ear Slider that might enjoy a snack

[excuzzzeme]

The likelihood of convicts eating the brood or eggs is very remote. That is not a natural behavior since they are considered to be about the best parents you will ever see in the fish world. They will attack the older brood if they have a new one. Hand raising is difficult at best and best chance for survival is to allow the parents to raise them.

Having raised many broods, I allow the parents to do all the work until they start taking flake on their own. At that time I pull them if my LFS wants them. If not, my Oscars go to town on them. I maintain 1 pair just for breeding as the LFS can never get theirs to breed.