What is wrong with my Convicts!

zenyoungkoh

zenyoungkoh

proven breeder
Sep 22, 2010
22
0
0
so cal and singapore
Real Name
same as my username
Im trying to breed convicts. I have a pair. Im not sure if they paired up because sometimes the follow each other and other times they hide alone and when the other comes up to he/she, he/she will flash at he/she:help: Both are 3 inches. Male is quite washed out. Doesnt have red belly, Longer fins, more aggressive and greedy. Female has good colors, red belly. I feed them Hikari cichlid gold, Market shrimp, turtle pellets (high in fiber and stuffs) but they dont eat lettuce. Sometimes they dine on turtle poo too :silly: Ammonia are <0.2 ppm i dont check nitrite and nitrate. The tank has been running for half a year now. 50% water changes every week. They live in a 54 gallon rubbermaid container with a turtle and 2 rosy red minnow. There is 2 terracotta pot, 2 caves made from stacked rocks, a small cave ornament. No substrate. The convict pair has been in the tank for 6 weeks now. No egglaying and breeding :angryfire: WHY!!!????
 
Just give them time. They might not feel comfortable breeding yet and still need time. You can rush them and expect a spawn rigth after you place two convicts together. Convicts are by far the easiest cichlids to breed, but no cichlid will breed at your command. Give them time, do you have a temp? Try feeding meatier foods like brine shrimp and blood worms
 
Just because you have a pair is immaterial. They must want to pair off and breed. There can be any number of reason that they have not mated including a lack of threat by another male or female. There needs to be a certain amount of competition (not aggression).

Washed out coloring is nothing to be concerned about initially as they often change coloration according to mood. Many cichlids are known for this. As long as they are eating, I would not be concerned over the lack of mating. They are still young so give them time. Just because you have 2 doesn't mean they will share a cave. The only time mine share is when they are mating. Beyond that, he has his cave and she has hers.
 
If I am reading right, you still have ammonia in the tank? Until your ammonia and nitrite levels hit zero they may not spawn as the water conditions are off. Try figuring out why you are still getting ammonia. If you can get rid of that and the nitrites, they will probably start spawning.
 
Im not sure if i have ammonia because i have Seachem stability that shows live reading and its on the yellow scale. Yellow= Safe = <0.2 ppm. They dont tell you exactly how much ammonia you have.
 
nano cichlids said:
Just give them time. They might not feel comfortable breeding yet and still need time. You can rush them and expect a spawn rigth after you place two convicts together. Convicts are by far the easiest cichlids to breed, but no cichlid will breed at your command. Give them time, do you have a temp? Try feeding meatier foods like brine shrimp and blood worms
Click to expand...

Temperature are 80-82 now, because im treating ich. Usually its 76-78
 
Well if your treating for ich don't expect anything. Even if they do spawn the fry can contract the disease and just die. But your pair might not feel safe or up to it, it's kind of like when your sick but don't show the signs you get achy, fish get the same way I'd assume and honestly I don't feel like spawning when I'm under the weather! HAHA
 
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