What is wrong with my Convicts!
- Thread starter zenyoungkoh
- Start date
Don't try TOO hard. I've heard once they start to breed, they don't stop. I've also heard they're great parents. But still, just wait. Keep treating that ich till its GONE. Clean tank, good water levels, protein for them, water changes. It'll happen when it happens. Just worry about the ich for now. And that will take a while to clear up, even if it looks gone.
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
Ok, I feel comfortable answering this question being that I have bred the same 2 pairs for some time now and have thousands of fry that survived to become food for my main tank.
Ok with that said, there are a few things lacking in your setup for a pair to successfully breed. First of all, you need some sort of substrate if they are a stubborn our that won't breed. I breed angels in bare bottom tanks but then again, you aren't successfully breeding. Convicts love clearing the substrate in the spawning area.
The second missing part would be heat. If you normally keep your temp in the mid 70's it needs to be raised. I keep mine at 80-82f. Also if your fish are stubborn, 3 large water changes 3 days in a row which simulates rainfall(breeding time in nature) will stimulate spawning.
The size of the fish is really of no concern as both the males and females can breed at around 1-2" and reach sexual maturity very young.
As others have stated, regarding "dither fish", which is using another convict or similarly colored or shaped fish to incite the parental instinct, is not needed. Convicts will spawn without these additions.
As far as pairing is concerned, if you have a male and female, you have a pair. They are not exactly picky lovers lol.
I don't know if you use a timer for your lights, but is always smart to keep your lighting schedule very consistent.
If you want to breed and raise convicts, it is not necessary to remove the eggs or fry for artificial incubation. In most cases an inexperienced breeder will have much more luck letting the parents care for them.
If you have any other questions let me know...
I can also post pictures of my breeders and fry if you need evidence that I know these lil guys lol.
Ok with that said, there are a few things lacking in your setup for a pair to successfully breed. First of all, you need some sort of substrate if they are a stubborn our that won't breed. I breed angels in bare bottom tanks but then again, you aren't successfully breeding. Convicts love clearing the substrate in the spawning area.
The second missing part would be heat. If you normally keep your temp in the mid 70's it needs to be raised. I keep mine at 80-82f. Also if your fish are stubborn, 3 large water changes 3 days in a row which simulates rainfall(breeding time in nature) will stimulate spawning.
The size of the fish is really of no concern as both the males and females can breed at around 1-2" and reach sexual maturity very young.
As others have stated, regarding "dither fish", which is using another convict or similarly colored or shaped fish to incite the parental instinct, is not needed. Convicts will spawn without these additions.
As far as pairing is concerned, if you have a male and female, you have a pair. They are not exactly picky lovers lol.
I don't know if you use a timer for your lights, but is always smart to keep your lighting schedule very consistent.
If you want to breed and raise convicts, it is not necessary to remove the eggs or fry for artificial incubation. In most cases an inexperienced breeder will have much more luck letting the parents care for them.
If you have any other questions let me know...
I can also post pictures of my breeders and fry if you need evidence that I know these lil guys lol.
Will they breed without substrate? I really do not want to add substrate. I have solve the problems of too many babies. I throw most of them into my friends private 1/4 acre pond. Ill sell some too...
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
another question for my convicts on MFK. If you have an account there pls reply! http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4555611#post4555611
I agree. My cons are always digging pits and moving the sand.
I currently have a spawn of 100+ and I didn't do anything.
Putting them in a pond is a bad idea. you should never introduce a species that isn't native to the area into any water system.
the other fish you have in the tank with the cons will either become food or become very stressed. Con's are horribly aggressive when they have a spawn. Mine for example will attack and bite my hands when I'm trying to clean the sand. I had to remove my female because of aggression. The dad had buried her in the pot. He chased her in and them moved the sand around the opening so she couldn't get out. Once I let her out he attacked and shredded her fins.
The pond is a private pond. I only have 2 other fish which are minnows in th tank i dont really care about them. They are feeders that survived my turtle.
Progress: The 2 convicts dont fight each other often but today morning the female was missing part of her 1/8 of her tail fin. Is that pre mating behaviour?
