Convict aggression

[AmyKieran]

Hi , 2 of my convicts (male and female) are violently defending a spot in the tank. They are staying in a cube shaped ornament, despite having plant pots etc and chasing/attacking any fish going near

Any explanation for this?

Thanks

 

[AmyKieran]

Edit - it actually looks like they have created a crater in the gravel, moving all of the gravel in that area to another, it appears they are defending that area rather then the cube

 

[Wills]

Sounds like they have paired off and are going to breed (or have recently spawned).

What other fish do you have them with?

Wills

 

[SomethingsFishy24]

Convicts are well...basically "super max prison" cichlids. Sounds like they are getting ready to spawn, which means you need to get them their own space asap, or they are going to beat the snot out of or kill anything else in the tank. Be prepared for a ton of fry also.

 

[AmyKieran]

Convicts are well...basically "super max prison" cichlids. Sounds like they are getting ready to spawn, which means you need to get them their own space asap, or they are going to beat the snot out of or kill anything else in the tank. Be prepared for a ton of fry also.

I actually have breeder tank I can setup, would you reccomend I move the pair to there?

 

[AmyKieran]

Sounds like they have paired off and are going to breed (or have recently spawned).

What other fish do you have them with?

Wills

Other American cichlids but all only juvenile. Ellioti, firemouth and polar parrot

 

[AmyKieran]

And what do I put in the breeder tank? In terms of ornaments/ gravel/ flower pots etc

 

[Colin_T]

And what do I put in the breeder tank? In terms of ornaments/ gravel/ flower pots etc

A layer of gravel, some pots and ornaments, an established filter, and a heater. Have a cover on the tank too

 

[AmyKieran]

A layer of gravel, some pots and ornaments, an established filter, and a heater. Have a cover on the tank too

Okay wish me luck I’ll update if I’m successful I only have a 25l tank for my breeder tank, I know it’s very small but it’s all I got, how regularly am I going to need to do water changes with this tank with the 2 parents in?

 

[itiwhetu]

Leave them where they are and let them do their thing.

 

[AmyKieran]

Leave them where they are and let them do their thing.

I’m scared they will kill other fish in the tank though lol

 

[itiwhetu]

I’m scared they will kill other fish in the tank though lol

As long as the other fish have protection away from this pair of fish, they will be fine and they will stay away, remember the convicts only want to look after their babies.

 

[AmyKieran]

As long as the other fish have protection away from this pair of fish, they will be fine and they will stay away, remember the convicts only want to look after their babies.

Okay I’ll give my wife the decision haha they other fish do have hiding spots they just look scared for their lives lol if my wife would rather move them tank, (I know a 25l isn’t ideal) but how would I do it? Just move them in with what was stated above and water changes every day?

 

[Colin_T]

If you move the flower pots, caves to the corners of the tank, the fish should confine their territory to that area and be less likely to attack the other fish that can hide at the other end of the tank. But having said that, you need to watch all cichlids when they are breeding because some go nuts and will take over an entire tank.

A 25 litre tank is probably a bit small for the adults to breed in. Leave them in the bigger tank and hope they don't go nuts.

If you do have to move them into the smaller tank, then do a big water change every day or two.

 

[itiwhetu]

Okay I’ll give my wife the decision haha they other fish do have hiding spots they just look scared for their lives lol if my wife would rather move them tank, (I know a 25l isn’t ideal) but how would I do it? Just move them in with what was stated above and water changes every day?

25l is just way too small for a pair of convicts