Ok guys, here is my stupid question for the day. I am far from a novice with fresh water cichlids, however, I am a novice for housing pink convicts. These little monsters are awesome. Here is my deal. I have 4 pink convicts in a 20 gallon, small, about 1.5 inch. One is already a distinguished male (lump on head) and the other 3 might be females, not positive. I have been monitoring their behavior and I havent seen the male bonding with any of the females yet...so I'm really not sure what is going on in that department. He is not chasing them away, and believe it or not, he is not the most agressive in the tank, he's actually calm and nice to the other convicts. All of the sudden, this morning, i noticed a huge, and i mean huge hole in the tank....one of them was digging a huge hole in the gravel, right under some drift wood. Could this be a sign of laying eggs, is the male of female picking out a spot to lay the eggs? or is it just normal cichlid behavior to dig and find spots to lay in. Really not sure what is going on...all of the fish are swiming to this hole, so that means no one is really protecting this hole (yet). Maybe she will put her eggs there after her cleaning process. Really not sure, has anyone had this and if you have, any input would be great guys. Thanks in advance.
Pink Convicts - Digging
- Thread starter bagodonuts22
- Start date
sometimes they just move things.. my convicts and my firemouth always dig up the plastic plants until they float to the top so i have to keep replanting them... convicts usually like to lay eggs on flat surfaces... i would say its probly just the fish doing what it does.. but keep an eye out for mating behavior (color change, a pair that are together most of the time and more territorial then normal or garding of the hole..etc)
It is normal for all cichlids to dig.
They are most likely not laying eggs this early. You will know when they pair off by they way the stay to one side of the tank and swim together. 1.5" is prob still a bit small for mating, but....keep looking for them being overly protective of 1 spot and their tubes droping from their stomachs. Both fish will drop a tube showing it is sexually mature.
But when they are ready to lay eggs they will dig a large pit.
I keep convicts of my own, love em'!
They are most likely not laying eggs this early. You will know when they pair off by they way the stay to one side of the tank and swim together. 1.5" is prob still a bit small for mating, but....keep looking for them being overly protective of 1 spot and their tubes droping from their stomachs. Both fish will drop a tube showing it is sexually mature.
But when they are ready to lay eggs they will dig a large pit.
I keep convicts of my own, love em'!