Single Convict in a 10g?

Flex26 · Oct 3, 2003

I was wondering if a single convict would be okay in a 10g. I saw a thread around here about a pair of convicts in a 10g. However, there were mixed opinions on the issue.

If a single convict is okay, could I put a couple otos with the convict? Or would the convict snack on the otos?

Also, the 10g will be planted.

Cichlid-Man · Oct 3, 2003

A single should be fine. If you can get a female, get her.

I think a pair would even be fine in a 10 if nothing else was in there.

O.B.E · Oct 3, 2003

How big are your Cons? I have a 10gal with two Cons and two Africans. TEMPORARILY! I don't want anyone jumping on me for this. The cons are only 1" if that and the Africans are about 2" each so they are still very small, and I am in the process of setting up a 90g. I don't think i answered your question though.

Cichlid-Man · Oct 3, 2003

LOL

90gal can fit many Africans

it should be alright. (the convict)

SoulFish · Oct 3, 2003

it will be ok until the convicts get bigger, then thell need a 20, i wouldnt get convicts though, they may look cute in teh store but they will drive you insane with babies soon enough

didnt see that it was a single covict, i think it would get bored quick alone

Cichlid-Man · Oct 3, 2003

.....I will back soul up on that drive you insane thing.

I speak from experience.

Flex26 · Oct 4, 2003

I am almost positive it is a female. She(?) is starting to show that orange tinge on her belly.

How big will she get?

Is there anything that I could put with a female con (in a 10g)? I've read that convicts are peaceful until spawning. I've also read on cichlid-forum (one of the cookie cutters) that 5 serpae tetras were okay with a pair of convicts in a 20 long. Would 2-3 serpae tetras be okay with a single female convict in a 10g? Or is that too many fish?

Also, what kind of live plants can I have with a convict?

Brockway · Oct 4, 2003

I kept rosy red minnows with mine (I quarantined and treated them first) And my convicts never caught them. Plus they are cheap, and they make a nice school. Make sure you get big pink ones that look healthy.

TaffyFish · Oct 6, 2003

Nothing personal Flex, I just don't get this.

Aside from a betta, I don't understand the wish to keep a single fish alone in a small tank. What is to be gained from doing this?

Actually, no, I don't understand the thing some people have for a betta in a bowl either....

Managuense · Oct 6, 2003

ahhh, i get to disagree with soulfish again.

i dont think that anyone can actually claim that a particular fish is "bored" with its surroundings with any kind of certainty.

you would have to define "bored" - which is subjective to begin with.

this is completely and utterly the opinion of the hobbyist. a single convict makes for a much more interesting tank than the same tank full of tetras, a betta, cories, what-have-you IMO.

though i do not have any fish in small tanks right now, i see no reason to not keep small fish in small tanks. female convicts do not grow very large, are extremely hardy, and IMO would do absolutely fine in a well-maintained 10 gallon.

what problems would be caused....other than the strange assumption that the fish would be "bored" by itself ....?

this question is absurd.

what is to be gained from a cup of tea?

i dont understand the thing some people have for keeping fancy goldfish....what is the difference?

peace
M

itchy armpits · Oct 6, 2003

are you guys talking about a full grown convict in a ten gallon, or just a small one? how big do these fish get?

Flex26 · Oct 7, 2003

Geez, I didn't want to start a fight here. But thanks for sticking up for me, managuense.

I'm just brainstorming here folks. So, I am gathering opinions here. I would like to use my 29g as a Lake Tang tank. So, I want to move my convict and I don't have a place for her. (And I don't want to give up any fish.

) The only new tank I can get is a 10g. I thought about moving my barbs to the 10 and the con to the 20. But catching the barbs is monumental task. (I don't want to remove my plants just to catch fish.) So, I thought about moving the convict to the 10g. I am just thinking out loud.

Taffeyfish, if you read a little further, you'll see that I asked about other fish I could add that wouldn't overstock a 10g. So, I didn't have any intentions of keeping her alone.

Thanks for your opinions everyone!!

Managuense · Oct 7, 2003

a female convict you can expect to pretty much max out at 3 inches, though 4 is not unheard of.

males max at an inch above that.
M

SoulFish · Oct 7, 2003

Well i would consider bored like my puffer gets bored, he just sits on the bottom and colors down and goes to sleep during the day until something happens, i fixed this though by giving him a bunch of minnows to chase

Managuense · Oct 7, 2003

what about snails?

M

TaffyFish · Oct 8, 2003

Those are some oddball responses Managuense. So when did "hobbyist" become a term of abuse?

The question about what the fishkeeper hopes to gain from the experience is far from absurd, we don't all do things just because they can be done. Isn't there an expectation that one might derive pleasure or other benefit?

I think it's a bit strange to set out to enforce isolation and sensory depravation on a creature within a ridiculously enclosed environment.

I would suggest that if you had a dog you wouldn't keep it tethered in a kennel just because you can keep it alive in that way. Flex, if the 10 gallon is your limit then you have my opinion, I wasn't picking a fight just questioning your motives and hoping for some enlightenment.

...now I'm off to get some benefit from a nice cup of tea, absurdly enough!

Managuense · Oct 8, 2003

this is another debate that is beaten to death on just about every forum, but here goes:

so youre saying a 3 inch fish alone in a 10 gallon is "enforced isolation" and would cause "sensory deprivation" ...? please explain this to me, as i have not read any publications to support this claim.

i noticed that you have a red-tailed shark in your 10 gallon.... but dont they grow to 5 inches? (larger in the wild)

is this 10 gallon a "ridiculously OPEN enviornment" compared to eveyone else's 10 gallon?

you would?? man, you must be one of THOSE kind of people who actually takes care of their pets b/c i sure dont care about mine.

the only reason i am even toying with this moot topic is that i dont appreciate the notion that i am somehow promoting poor fish keeping practices by keeping small fish in small tanks.

is any tank really large enough compared to what fish would have in the wild? how far do you want to take this?

take your 55 gallon for example: cyps school in incredibly large numbers in the wild..... can you really replicate this at all in a 55 gallon tank?

would they suffer from physiological problems from this? i would say hell no.

using your logic though, i dont know.
M

Flex26 · Oct 8, 2003

I understand your concern, Taffyfish. But I didn't really want to put the con alone in a 10g. I wanted to add some other fish to keep her company.

Maybe 3-4 zebra danios would keep her occupied...similar to Soulfish's puffer?

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