Convict Breeding Question [Archive]

Spridell

02-27-2007, 11:59 PM

I got 3 convicts about 4 days ago. 1 Male and 2 females. The male and one of the females paired up. I moved the other female out of the tank cause she was getting picked on. Today the female layed about 30 eggs in a big flower pot.

She is guarding the eggs and will not let the male anywhere near them. Everyime the male tries to go into the pot he chases her away.

Is this normal for convicts?

They are in a 30 gallon. THanks for the help.

mickey

02-28-2007, 9:03 AM

Yes this is normal behaviour, good luck with the eggs.

alan j t

03-02-2007, 1:11 AM

the fish are acting normal but dont be surprised if they eat the babies its there firt time so it happens usually other than that just feed them small meals 4 times a day

Spridell

03-05-2007, 11:48 PM

Thanks for the replies.

She is guarding about 15 wigglers. There are times when the male is allowed into the cave with her, but most of the time she chases him away and he hides in the top corner of the tank.

Is this normal also?

thanks

makhcd

03-06-2007, 12:24 AM

how old/big do they have to be to start breeding, and how do you tell the males apart from the females

Spridell

03-06-2007, 12:27 AM

how old/big do they have to be to start breeding, and how do you tell the males apart from the females

Mine are only about 2".

The females have orange spots on their stomach and the males do not. Thats the easiest way to tell the difference.

mandy-2007

03-06-2007, 1:06 AM

The females have orange spots on their stomach and the males do not. Thats the easiest way to tell the difference.

Thats strange cause mine both had the orange bellies but they had eggs and fry and more fry and even more fry lol

hmmmm french fries lol. . . . . so yeah mine both had orange tummie

Mgamer20o0

03-06-2007, 1:42 AM

saw a cool video of cons in the wild..... mom would guard the fish... hovering over them and the dad would go after the other fish trying to eat them. the dad is prob a little board....

everything sounds like its going like it should... good luck with the fish.

KingOfTheDeep

03-06-2007, 3:01 AM

saw a cool video of cons in the wild..... mom would guard the fish... hovering over them and the dad would go after the other fish trying to eat them. the dad is prob a little board....

everything sounds like its going like it should... good luck with the fish.

would you happen to have a link to that vid? sounds very interesting

good luck with the fry also!

Spridell

03-12-2007, 1:44 AM

Well out of the 30 babies only 5 survived. They are getting big quick though.

My female is still not letting the male anywhere near the babies. She is STILL chasing him and keeping him pinned to the top of the tank.

I keep reading and seeing videos of how both parents take care of the fry. Does anyone know why the female wont let the male anywhere near her?

Also my friend came by and he said he didnt think my male was even a convict. He thought it was some other fish.

Here is a pic of my male
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/mark52479/Fish%20Tank/IMG_0682.jpg

And these are both male and female the first couple of days i got them. Back then they were good together.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/mark52479/Fish%20Tank/IMG_0680.jpg

thanks for the help.

Mgamer20o0

03-12-2007, 2:16 AM

would you happen to have a link to that vid? sounds very interesting

good luck with the fry also!

nope sorry. it was a presentation from a guy who studies down there when he isnt teaching.

Spridell

03-12-2007, 1:34 PM

some better pics

male? Yes or no

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/mark52479/Fish%20Tank/IMG_0015.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/mark52479/Fish%20Tank/IMG_0014.jpg

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j1/mark52479/Fish%20Tank/IMG_0012.jpg

Shocker6966

03-12-2007, 1:34 PM

Stick your hand in the tank and see what happens :devil:

Spridell

03-12-2007, 1:42 PM

Stick your hand in the tank and see what happens :devil:

Nothing happens. He is scared of everything. The female though is crazy. She wont let anything go near her babies.

Kyohti

03-12-2007, 5:11 PM

That doesn't look anything like the convict cichlids my aunt and uncle raised... O . o;;

They were more like this: http://www.uoguelph.ca/zoology/rush/zoo433www/W2003-ZOO433/photos/imagesW2003/FISH/FISH74.GIF
http://cichlidresearch.com/gifs/simpleaquarium/s_convictsguarding.jpg
http://www.azgardens.com/images/Cichlid-BlackConvictTHUMB.gif

Spridell

03-12-2007, 5:26 PM

I have seen tons of pics and videos and i have never seen one that has no stripes like the one i have. He did mate with my female convict so i am waiting to see how the babies turn out.

Shocker6966

03-12-2007, 5:51 PM

It's a black convict. It should lighten up with age. There are some funky oddball recessive colours that come out in convicts it seems. Even seen pics of some coloured like koi or fancy fantails.

Spridell

03-12-2007, 7:06 PM

It's a black convict. It should lighten up with age. There are some funky oddball recessive colours that come out in convicts it seems. Even seen pics of some coloured like koi or fancy fantails.

Thanks for the help. So you definetly think it's a convict?

IceH2O

03-12-2007, 7:12 PM

He is stressed so his colors are washed out.

I had the same problem but opposite. The male wouldn't let the female near the babies and chased her to the top corner. This after about 6 successful spawns with no problems.

I added a divider to keep them separate and after a month or so removed it. They have spawned again since then with no problems.

Spridell

03-23-2007, 12:14 AM

Well i moved the male and female to my 125g and they paired back up almost instantly. They have been following each other around for the last 3 days. Now they are digging around a flower pot and the female looks like she is getting ready to lay eggs.

Now my question is....

I am going away next weekend for 10 days, should i leave them in the 125g or should i move them back to the 29g? I dont want there to be any problems while i am away.

In the 125g with them are 2 Male Severums about 6" and a Male Green Terror that is about 8". The cons are only 2" maybe a little less.

THanks for the help.

Spridell

03-24-2007, 7:37 PM

Well i moved the male and female to my 125g and they paired back up almost instantly. They have been following each other around for the last 3 days. Now they are digging around a flower pot and the female looks like she is getting ready to lay eggs.

Now my question is....

I am going away next weekend for 10 days, should i leave them in the 125g or should i move them back to the 29g? I dont want there to be any problems while i am away.

In the 125g with them are 2 Male Severums about 6" and a Male Green Terror that is about 8". The cons are only 2" maybe a little less.

THanks for the help.

Any suggestions?