Convicts

[Dog]

Hello,

I have a 20 gallon tank that has been up for 2 years, I have a female convict thats about 3", clown pleco about the same size, Yesterday I got another convict, a male slightly bigger than the female. Last night she beat him up, he doesn't look to good today. He seemd more active as the day has gone on but still looks pretty bad.

Then female has been cleaning the clay pot out today. But still chases him around. I turned the light out again to see if it would calm her down some but she had him hiding in the corner again so I turned it back on. Should I worry about the female killing him or will he come out of this. Do you think she is wanting to get "romantic" and he is stressed from the move and not interested yet?

Also, the heater was stuck on today and the tank was 84 to 86 degrees, but the other 2 fish have been fine all day.

I am worried that she is going to kill him. Should i see if the LFS will take him back and trade him for a bigger male? Or should I let them be and see what happens?

 

[snakeskinner]

I've never had convicts but it sounds like she's willing to mate. I've had jewel cichlids for a while and my female killed 2 males before I finally got a mate for her and they've been breeding ever since. hopefully the moderator will move this to the cichlid forum where you'll get a better response. Kyle

 

[Dog]

Thanks for the reply. I didn't know exactly where to post the thread.

I went ahead and put a divider up so maybe the male can relax and get used to everything for a little bit then I will see what happens.

 

[NotCalebSherida]

I've read that rearanging the tank can help when you add new cichlids

 

[Geo blue]

Dog, Convicts can be very choosy about mates.Use a divider that they can see each other but not get together until they seem to want to be together.Sometimes they choose not to accept each other at all. Better to get several of the opposite sex and let them decide who breeds and then remove the others.