Black Convicts

[mrgolf]

Picked up a couple of these today for a 30 gal tank. According to the LFS owner a male and a female and a few fry. She says the male is larger and is the one that is caring for the fry.

Anyone have any experience with these fish? They are the only thing in these except for 3 cories which are getting hammered since they were put in there. Can they exist or should I pull em out.

Any advice on any of your experiences would be cool. I know what I have read but wanted some live info.

Thanks

 

[Betta Bob]

I would pull them, Convicts caring for fry can be evil.

 

[nano cichlids]

Your cories won't make it with the convicts, Corys are very well known for going after eggs and fry. Convicts will not tolerate that at all. If they see a Cory even get near the eggs or fry the male will batter them until the die. I'd remove the Cory cats and just give the tank to the cons, before you know it you'll have 40 fish in that tank

 

[excuzzzeme]

As someone that has bred them, the above answers are spot on. The Convicts should be housed with like temperament fish. Especially larger fish. The female is the one with pink (or orange) markings close to the stomach are although it can show up anywhere. While fry are present, they can be quite mean.

Black convicts are also known as zebra convicts with a mean and picky disposition. You will need to be able to give each one its own territory and a cave to hide in. Stay away from the pink con (a.k.a. Pink Congo)as it is quite mean.

 

[nano cichlids]

Personally I think there all terribly mean and aggressive. But also keep in mind a lot of LFS will have cichlids called Blue Convicts for sale, These are actually Cryptoheros sp. 'honduran red point' and are no way related to the Archocentrus nigrofasciatus. Altough they will commonly spawn togther I do not recommend this. Always try to get cichlid lines as pure as possiable unless your breeding flowerhorns, red texas, and blood parrots.