Sudden Convict Aggression and dead fish

[ConvictKid]

Well hey everyone, after a long absence I am back. I guess my account had been deleted due to inactivity so I got to start over again.

Well lets get down to business...

I have a 150 gallon tank. I have a oscar, about 3.5 to 4 inches, a jack dempsy, a firemouth and a raphael catfish. I used to have a texas cichlid and a ram. A few days ago i just found my texas dead and my ram missing. The fish have been with each other for i would say about 2 months and then they are just suddenly dead.

I look in there and my convict moved all the rocks in piles in the back of the tank. I have a cliff thing that is about 3 inches away from the glass and she sits behind there and swims back and forth. The convict will look at the tube that comes down from the filter and just start biting it. She is a female and has laid eggs before. She has laid them in a cave and was a little aggressive. She chases the jack dempsy and the firemouth, but dont touch the oscar. The firemouth sits in the corner now and doesnt seem to be eating. What is wrong with her? I dont see any eggs. Is this a sign of old age? - I have had her for over 2 years. I havnt done a water change in a while and i was thinking about doing one tomorrow. What should I do? :confused: I dont see the ram body - he was small, could he have been oscar food? ANY help would be appreciated.:(:confused:

[Harry Tolen]

Since most medium-sized cichlids will easily live to be over 10 years old, I don't think that old age could be your problem. I would do a series of water changes (say every other day for 10 days or so) to really refresh your tank. As far as the convict goes, that fish should be isolated in another, smaller tank or somehow separated from the other fish so that it doesn't cause any further problems. No offense to convicts as a group, but they are a dime a dozen and shouldn't be allowed to displace or torture other, more interesting species.

[TTman]

lols, don't be a hater. I never thought much of convicts until a I saw a male w/a huge nuchal hump. can ya say miniature midas! since that moment I bought a pair & I love 'em. very active & flare up all the time, at me & each other. they have mated already (at only 1.5 & 2 INCHES) & have 3 week old fry now ;-) of course they are in their own tank.


Originally posted by Harry Tolen
No offense to convicts as a group, but they are a dime a dozen and shouldn't be allowed to displace or torture other, more interesting species.