Convict and Rams??????

[blockhead595]

I have one young convict that I believe is a male in a 20 gallon tank. I was thinking of adding a pair of small cichlids in with him. I was thinking Rams but I don't know how long they will last in there. Is this a good idea? Any suggestions on fish that I can add. The convict is in a tank with a few Gouramis right now and he is doing fine. I know I will have problems later so the Gouramis will be transfered to one of my other tanks soon but I would like to replace them if I can. What small cichlids would be aggressive enough to hold there own against one convict?

 

[wrestlingfreak7]

I would just get a female convict to make things easy. When they breed just give the juvies to the LFS.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

IMO 20gal is to small for anything else but another convict, a female. Eventually the convict will mature and kill everything else in the tank except (usually) a female of the species. Most LFS are overrun with convicts so even then you might have problems giving them away.

 

[blockhead595]

So in your opinion my best bet would be to dedicate that tank to just the one convict? I don't want to put a female in there and have them breed if I can't get rid of the fry once they are old enough to be placed. I love my convict and would be willing to dedicate the tank just to him until I can get a bigger tank but I would prefer not to if there is an alternative. He's allready starting to get aggressive with my other fish though just like you said. They will have to go soon. They aren't too stressed yet because he picks on everyone equally but it's almost time for them to be placed in my other tank. I just have to set it up first.

 

[Mercury]

If you are concerned about being to give away fry, you can put them up for sale on the web, use them to feed other creatures, or destroy them.

 

[Pure]

get a girl, oh and one of these.

 

[blockhead595]

How big of a tank would I need for 1 Green Terror and 1 Convict? Would they play nice temporarily in a 20 until I can upgrade if they where by themselves? They would both be quite young. Would a 55 work for when they are adults?

 

[SinisterKisses]

Nope, a goldsaum (GT) should be in a 75gal as an adult if you had a male (which is what everyone wants anyway). A 12" fish should not be in a 55gal tank.

 

[blockhead595]

Alright then 75 or larger it is. I'm thinking that a 90 gallon with a green terror, a convict and MAYBE 1 other fish would be a great set up and they would all be happy. Any thoughts? Also, if I what about my other question? If I where to get the green terror now how long would I have until he and the convict didn't get along in the smaller tank? I know they grow to adult size in about a year so would 5 or 6 months be a good time frame if it was just the two fish?