not a chance eh?
- Thread starter blueturq
- Start date
I actually did do this, although it was not intentionally to answer the above question.
I raised three Convict fry for one year in a 20 gallon tank with tetras, cories, a rainbow shark, and some danios.
Here is what I experienced:
Although when I brought them home all three fry were the same size and from the same brood, their growth rates were disproportioned. One grew larger, one grew to a middle size, and one remained small. Upon removal of the largest fry, the next larger fry would grow bigger, and the smaller fry would grow proportionately larger, but still remain smaller than the one above it. None of the fry reached full potential size of year old Convicts.
The largest of the fry always became the dominate of the other fry. It would eat the most, be more visible within in the tank, and would chase the smaller fry away from food and space.
As the fry grew larger, they became more aggressive towards the non-Convict members of the tank, until they were indeed diplaying dominate behviors towards the non-Convict tank inhabitants. This displayed itself in chasing away from food, nipping (especially the cories, who all suffered the near shredding of their dorsal fins, and the top lobe of their caudal fins), and "space hogging" in which the Convict would swim in the open while the rest of the fish remained in hiding.
This process repeated itself with all three fry until I removed the last of the fry from the tank.
So "Nature" is definately at work here with Convict cichlids.
~~Colesea
I raised three Convict fry for one year in a 20 gallon tank with tetras, cories, a rainbow shark, and some danios.
Here is what I experienced:
Although when I brought them home all three fry were the same size and from the same brood, their growth rates were disproportioned. One grew larger, one grew to a middle size, and one remained small. Upon removal of the largest fry, the next larger fry would grow bigger, and the smaller fry would grow proportionately larger, but still remain smaller than the one above it. None of the fry reached full potential size of year old Convicts.
The largest of the fry always became the dominate of the other fry. It would eat the most, be more visible within in the tank, and would chase the smaller fry away from food and space.
As the fry grew larger, they became more aggressive towards the non-Convict members of the tank, until they were indeed diplaying dominate behviors towards the non-Convict tank inhabitants. This displayed itself in chasing away from food, nipping (especially the cories, who all suffered the near shredding of their dorsal fins, and the top lobe of their caudal fins), and "space hogging" in which the Convict would swim in the open while the rest of the fish remained in hiding.
This process repeated itself with all three fry until I removed the last of the fry from the tank.
So "Nature" is definately at work here with Convict cichlids.
~~Colesea
I have also done this. And I have had a different experience than colesea.
I have a female convict that grew up with some zebra danios (it's been close to a year now). Aside from the occasional "get outta my way, you're annoying me" chase, my convict doesn't show much hostility to the danios. In fact, she has layed three batches of eggs and she has only chased away the danios. She has never injured the danios. Of course, the danios are lightning fast. But I have never witnessed the convict bully the danios during feeding time. She lets them have their fill and gets whatever is missed by the danios.
Don't get me wrong, the danios certainly steer clear when she swims around the tank. But nothing really comes of it.
Also, I do not have a male. I'm sure if this was a male, then my tank would be a war zone.
I'm not suggesting that this will always work....just that I've been successful so far.
I have a female convict that grew up with some zebra danios (it's been close to a year now). Aside from the occasional "get outta my way, you're annoying me" chase, my convict doesn't show much hostility to the danios. In fact, she has layed three batches of eggs and she has only chased away the danios. She has never injured the danios. Of course, the danios are lightning fast. But I have never witnessed the convict bully the danios during feeding time. She lets them have their fill and gets whatever is missed by the danios.
Don't get me wrong, the danios certainly steer clear when she swims around the tank. But nothing really comes of it.
Also, I do not have a male. I'm sure if this was a male, then my tank would be a war zone.
I'm not suggesting that this will always work....just that I've been successful so far.
The do have there own personality, but listen to the names...
Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, Red Devil. Doesn't that tell you something? I once had a lone oscar in a 55g. I put in three feeder goldfish and he ate two of them. I would add three feeders every week and he ate all but that particular one. They became buddies, but woe unto any other feeder that hit the tank.
Jack Dempsey, Green Terror, Red Devil. Doesn't that tell you something? I once had a lone oscar in a 55g. I put in three feeder goldfish and he ate two of them. I would add three feeders every week and he ate all but that particular one. They became buddies, but woe unto any other feeder that hit the tank.