Convicts & Plecos?

[Tgillis]

Hey guys, as you may know I have a pair of convicts, now with fry. Im getting a good bit of brown algae now and I was wondering what type of algae eaters if any are compatible with my cons. The tank is a 10g and may be too small, but I will have a 55+ really soon.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Bristlenose plecs always solve my brown algae problems. Idk about in a 10gal, the cons might pick at the pleco...maybe something you'd just have to try.

 

[Kyle]

The convicts would probably pick on most any other fish you can put in a 10 gallon, especially if they are protecting their fry. If you get a 55 Gallon the pleco will be able to stay out of the cons way, so you might just want to wait until you get a 55 Gallon to get anything else.

 

[zoo minsi]

i have a 55 gal with 7 Cichlids and have had a couple diffrent pleco's with no problems, the only thing i noticed is when i first put the pleco's in the cichlids would follow em around, i think just to figure out what they were. After the first day they were fine though.

 

[NYYankee30]

hey quick question....do you guys think that a convict could hang in an African tank?

 

[Desi]

NO

no one hangs in an african tank; unless its belly up.

EDIT: and your occasional hardy loach/synodontis will also survive the african gang

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Its possible NY. I've seen it done. The convicts are tough enough to dish out what is given to them so...its possible.

 

[NYYankee30]

that's what a guy said at my LFS. He said that convicts can handle themselves. If I did try it the convict would go in with

1 LG Asst. African Cichild
2 small ELectric Yellow
1 medium Electric Blue

The LG Asst. and the Electric Blue are two tough guys......everyone gets along.

I might try it.

How can you tell if a convict is male or female?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Females have orange scales on their bellies. Males are generally larger and might have a slight bump on the forehead.

 

[NYYankee30]

should I try a female or male in my tank?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'd do a male just because they tend to be a bit bigger.

 

[NYYankee30]

Do you know of any other South American cichlids that could go into an African tank?

 

[Kyle]

I think convicts are central american, not south, but anyway, you could try a Jack Dempsey, Firemouth, ect also, but if you already have grown Africans and you put a small central or southern, IMO it might not work out to well.

 

[Tgillis]

Thanks for the replies guys, going to wait on the pleco until I get my new tank. Going to get a 55 or bigger for the cons so I can add a few more tennants, also taking suggestions on what other CA Cichlids can go in. Or not just CA, just anything compatible, maybe a few jacks or green terrors? Ive had my eye on those. Also thinking of trying a few apistos in the 10g once I make the transfer. Whatcha think?