Convicts, smaller tanks, fry predators?

[Jayhawk]

The longer I keep fish the more I keep coming back to the classic cichlids - curviceps/dorsigera, angels, firemouths, and convicts - especially convicts.

I find myself perusing the LFS and somehow end up in front of the cons, start sexing them, and then realize I don't have an open tank right now.

However, my geriatric figure 8 isn't long for this world, and that would free up a 33ish gallon tank (36" long, 12.5" wide, 17" high). I think that's a great size for a pair of cons - providing a little additional length compared to a 29 or 20 long.

I haven't kept convicts in quite some time, but I do recall they spawn on the rare occasion...:dance2: and I'm not sure what to do with the fry. So...

1) If I leave the fry in there, will time take it's toll and I end up with a reasonable number of survivors I could pawn off on the LFS for supplies or will the tank be over-run by young ones?
2) Any suggestions for predators that might help decrease the fry in a tank this size? I was wondering if golden wonder killies, which I know are topwater predators, might help and not get whacked since they primary hide out up top.
3) I have a pair of angels in another tank - anyone think they'd eat very small convict fry?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[headcougar]

mine spawn like bunnies. I have a needlefish which pars them down when they get older but the convicts protect the young pretty good.

 

[Jayhawk]

Needlefish get a little big for my tank - but it's the same idea with the golden wonder killie which is pike-like in shape with a big mouth...but I'm not sure how good of hunters they are. I know an African Butterfly Fish would like the fry, but those long fins probably would be shredded by the convicts (at least that's my guess).

Eric