Never in a million years

equinom

equinom

Large Fish
#1
Oct 22, 2002
386
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The Blue Planet
#1
I have been keeping fish for about 2 years now - and never wanted to get into breeding. It seemed like a lot of work to get these guys happy and properly conditioned so that they would want to do 'the nasty' - so no one was more surprised than I when I saw 2 of my very young, female, convicts acting extremely protective near a clump of tiny plants. Well it appears I was wrong on many counts this time -

* the convicts weren't that young
* they weren't both female
* it wasn't the plants they were interested in

Now I have more convicts than I know what to do with -and those parents are kicking the poop out of the algae eater (who happens to be about 3 times larger than the convicts).

It's so weird to see the parents protecting the little ones - catching them when they stray to far from the pack, keeping them safe and clean. All the while - kicking the tar out of anything that gets to close to their babies. I think I'll name those convicts Tony and Carmela - second thought, forgetaboutit!
 

Managuense

Managuense

Superstar Fish
#2
May 16, 2003
1,204
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Springfield, MO
#2
that sounds like typical con behavior! :D

do you have any other large predatory fish to feed the babies to?

i have considered breeding cons for that purpose, but really dont have the tank space and time.
M
 

equinom

equinom

Large Fish
#4
Oct 22, 2002
386
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0
The Blue Planet
#4
do you have any other large predatory fish to feed the babies to?
Click to expand...
I have good size africans in a different tank - but no true predators.

I really don't know what to do with these guys - how long do you think it would be before they could be given away? I am a bit hesitant on that too, wouldn't that make this pair just want to spawn again, and again, and again...


Crying out loud - what did I get myself into??!
 

T

TaffyFish

Superstar Fish
#5
Jan 30, 2003
1,467
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0
Visit site
#5
Removing one of the adults would work, alternatively a stern lecture and provision of condoms? :)

I once came across a 6ft tank full of adult malawis, 3 x Tropheus Duboisi, 3 x Frontosa, 2 x 12" synodontis decorus, a syno multipunctatus and a couple of adult Convicts......and about 20 Convict offspring of various ages and sizes. That should give you some idea of their parenting skills.
 

C

Cichlid-Man

MFT Staff
#6
Jul 9, 2003
8,866
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38
38
Columbia, SC
www.youtube.com
#6
I really don't know what to do with these guys - how long do you think it would be before they could be given away? I am a bit hesitant on that too, wouldn't that make this pair just want to spawn again, and again, and again...
Click to expand...
Well you can't really give them away. Since they are so easy to breed, no one wants to buy them. Yes it will make them do it again and again.

I have a 55gal full of them and another batch in a 10gal. WAY to many for me. I am getting rid of all my convicts soon........somehow. My LFS will take them for free, prob. to be used as feeders.

Cons are very intresting don't get me wrong on that but breed WAY to much.
 

AmazonTankz

AmazonTankz

Large Fish
#9
Feb 2, 2003
627
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North Dakota
#9
I could sure use some of those convicts to feed my cudas (barracudas). I bet they would be a lot better for them then minnows. But then again I'd probably get to attached to them.

I hate bying feeders so I go to a gas station for fishing minnows. But that doesn't work in the winter. So I'm stuck fatting up rosies.

Anyway...[/rant]...sorry
 

AndyL

AndyL

Large Fish
#10
Oct 22, 2002
908
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48
Calgary AB
#10
Cons really have become the new feeder fish - soo many people like to watch the breeding behaviour. But then there's the problem of those darn kids... Find a friend with a big south american (Green terror, Firemouth, Pirahna etc) They'll make a quick snack out of the fry - just watch your hands when you syphon them out... Those parents can be hard on the fingers!

Amazon: You need a pair of cons, get a friend relative or kid to do the syphon work for you :) It's a lot safer to use home bred cons than to buy those disease infested feeders from the pet store...

Andy
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#12
Oct 22, 2002
4,077
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#12
I've bought a very nice pike cichlid for just this problem - he now lives on baby killifish and runt apistos. My angels and discus also like a nice snack
 

AmazonTankz

AmazonTankz

Large Fish
#14
Feb 2, 2003
627
1
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39
North Dakota
#14
Yes, it just kills me to put feeders in my nice clean tank. However, they do go thru quite I regerus quarinteen(sp?) period, and then I keep them for at least a few weeks on good food so they have more nutritonal value.

I wish I could just keep a pair of cons in my 55g along with the barracuda, instant lunch! Unfortunatly I'm sure the cons would be to aggresive for the cuda to get to their fry. Oh well, one day I'll get a good line on extra cons and have a nice steady stream of food coming in!
 

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