What's Up with my Convicts?

B

Blakeski33

Phishin
Sep 11, 2006
10
0
0
47
Maine
I bought a pair of convicts about 3 weeks ago... Since I put them in the tank they constantly hide, and when they are not hiding they are very skittish and frantic to hide. They have their appetite but again, when it's feeding time they feed and immediately and franticly get back to cover. I've tried to show them it's ok with a few neons...but then they just eat them and are forever hiding and acting very sheepish and scared. They are the only tankmates. What's up?

Sometimes the surface of the water is bubbly and I've heard that's from dirty water. I change the water every week but it still gets dirty or bubbly on the surface. Any advice for this condition? I'm thinking if I can get rid of this problem it might cure my convicts. (?) Don't have a clue though.....
 
have you checked for eggs or fry?
 
Yes

No fry but I put in 3 zebra danios to let the convicts know it was ok to swim around.... Now it looks like the convict male might be building a nest in the gravel.... Any other opinions?
 
Tank is a 10 gal

I have 3 zebra danio's, a convict male, and a pink convict female (I hope it's a female)....I also have a crab in there. My convicts are constantly hiding and seem skittish....I've had convicts before and they're temperment seemed almost opposite of this.... how do you diagnose fish with internal parasites or how do you treat for it? The striped male convict doesn't look as bloated, but I noticed one of the danio's stomachs looked a little distended....is it easy to breed the danios? Could one be pregnant already?
 
did you say your tank is a 10 gal?? That is your problem!! Way to small of a tank for all those fish the con's are hiding because they feel cramped you really should upgrade your tank size dude.

I would go with a 50 as it can double as a grow out and future (happy) home. :cool:
 
I agree that the ten gallon is too small for full grown convicts but if they are only an inch or two long (as alot of convicts are when first sold ) then a cramped tank is not the problem. ( a 20g long should sufice for an adult pair as long as they are the only fish other than a few dithers)

Note to fellow AC members: Lets try to control the urge to jump down every hobbiests throat that has fish in too small a tank. We can and should point it out, but saying that too small a tank is the problem CASE CLOSED, and then repeating it ad nauseam makes us sound conceited.

I would look at factors such as tank decor. If there are only a few plants and decorations then fish tend to be more skitish. The more structure you have in the tank the less your fish will hide in it. An overabundance of hidey holes will draw the fish out. I realize tank decor is expensive. check out a local landscape supply yard and pick up some slate, or limestone. For the size you'll be looking for they may not even charge you.

Are there any cats, young children around that may be stressing fish out when you're not watching? Is there any stray electrical current in the tank (leaky heater or in-tank filter)? How long have the fish been in the tank? (fish can sometimes be skitish for several days after coming home) Lastly, have you sat down in front of the tank and not moved for a full 10 minutes? Maybe your presence is whats causing them to hide. I've found that a whole new world of behavior is exhibited by my fish if I just sit quietly in front of the tank for a little while longer than I normally do.

Good Luck
 
Thank you

I appreciate the advice Mooman... much more helpful than a list of replies stating "your tank is way too small" and "what's your problem?"

I realize that I will need to move the fish into a bigger tank, but since the convicts are about an inch long, I don't think the five one inch fish I have in the 10 gallon are too much for that size of a tank.

My main point was the bloating of the fish....and I thought that maybe the skittishness was a symptom of possibly internal parasites or internal virus.... still not sure....they seem to be better now..... but I'm keeping an eye on them....
 
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