Convicts.....

[Firebug]

Can a pair be kept in a 10 gal? If they can...Is it possible to get them to breed in it? I'm going to be getting a 10 gal. and wanted to get some convicts. I don't know very much about them, so any info will be helpful! Thanks!

 

[Firebug]

nevermind about them...just researched them...too big for a 10 gal. Sorry to bother ya!

 

[fishdude07]

you can have em in a 10 gallon. theyll be fine...until they get bigger. lots of people put convicts in 10 gallons. they can breed in 10 gallons...

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Acctually i've kept and spawned mine about 3 times in a 10gal. It is possible but a lot of people look away from people who do it. Many people don't like it.

 

[Revolt]

Originally posted by Cichlid-Man
Acctually i've kept and spawned mine about 3 times in a 10gal. It is possible but a lot of people look away from people who do it. Many people don't like it.

Same here, I've got bashed over this before - but honestly IMO, cons in a 10g works very well.

There's a very nice pink con at my lfs I'm thinking about getting soon, maybe even tomorrow if I stop by.

 

[Firebug]

oh yay! Then maybe I will try! I have been seeing them around in my lfs, and think they are very interesting fish..Now if I can find the black ones instead of the pink ones! Thanks!

 

[Revolt]

You do know why they have the name convict right? lol

 

[Firebug]

lol, Yes, I do..Very agressive fish! Are they hardy? I wonder...If I do get these convicts..should they be the only fish in there? can an algae eater of some type be in there?

 

[Revolt]

There're hardy, I wont add anything else - my first pink convict RIP, killed everything I put in the tank, but he was around 4 1/2 to 5 inches - he was a real convict.

I've heard of cons killing common plecos and even oscars, but oscars usally aren't really aggressive just major eaters not fighters.

 

[Firebug]

OK, I will just scrape any algae off myself! Sorry to hear you lost your convict. Looks like I'm set then..Convicts it will be! After my cycle, of course!

 

[Revolt]

He was the same size when I got him, so I dont know how old he was, he lived about 6 to 7 years so he might have been 10+ years old.

The one at the LFS reminds me of him, I can tell from watching him threw the glass at the lfs he is the ruler of the tank.

 

[Firebug]

aww, wow 10 years is a lot for a fish! I hope the ones I get will live that long!

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Yes VERY hardy fish. I was once told on this board "Convicts can live in a puddle of mud".

I know if you have a Black X Black pair you will get some pink....wonder if its the same if Pink X Pink pair.

I'd keep only the pair in there.

 

[Firebug]

Right..just think of the fights if I had more than one pair! Hmm, I thought that the pink ones were the albinos...maybe I'm wrong tho?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Well they arn't true albinos. They are just 1 of the 3 convict color forms. Black, marbled, and pink. You get this out of spawns -

Black X Black - Black and pink offspring
Black X Pink - Marbled offspring. Some you might get total Black or pink offspring depends on genes that get passed.
Pink X Pink - Pink offspring (not sure about others)
Marbled X Black - mix of marbled and black
Marbled X Pink - mix of marbled and pink

 

[Firebug]

Mmm..Makes me wonder which is prettier??? Sorry, I'm a girl-gotta think about beauty too!

 

[Flex26]

Originally posted by Firebug
Mmm..Makes me wonder which is prettier??? Sorry, I'm a girl-gotta think about beauty too!

I have a female black convict. She gets quite pretty when she shows her orange colors. So, at the very least, you'll have a pretty female.

 

[TaffyFish]

I've never kept convicts but I've got to say keeping a fish that can reach 5" in a 10gallon should not be encouraged, much less setting up a breeding pair in this size of tank. There's a difference between "can be done" and "should be done" isn't there?

I had thought the reason convicts are so called is because of their colouration and striped pattern. Not all cons are put away for violent crimes. Perhaps we're seeing a redefinition now, it's because they are held captive in restrictive spaces?

 

[Firebug]

I see your point, TaffyFish..Remember..this is still just an idea! Still not definite.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Taffy is right. Cons arn't as hostile as they are made out to be.

I clearly stated in my post.....it is POSSIBLE to do it. And it CAN be done. I've done it myself. Reg. W/Cs and they were fine. I got 3 spawns out of them and all were successful. My cons only grew to about 4-5".