Convict Only

[treefella83]

i have read the post from freddyk and agree but one thing has been on my mind for over a year now .
a convict speices tank with more than just the one breeding pair.
can it be done or has it been done ?
i know it seems a simple question with a negative answer but i was wondering uuuuuuummmmmmmmm

 

[Gatorbait]

Sure, it can be done. With a large enough tank anything can be done.

There will be times when it won't work as well as others because not all convicts are the same. Some may think they need more space than others when others will be content to have just their breeding area and not worry about much else to far beyond that.

When I had convicts for breeding live food for me a while back, I had 2 pairs in a 75g. They sometimes had their wars, especially if one pair was breeding and the others weren't but all in all they got along, ie. co-existed, pretty well for a couple months while breeding many times. I also had target fish in there, so I can't answer personally how well it would work without target fish.

 

[Nevergone815]

When i first got into cichlids i went convict hppy, i have had 3 breeding pairs in a 20 galloin high and all of the mgot along. given these werent fully grown but jsut breeding age and they all gre up together so it all happened well for me.

I wouldn't recommend it, but it can be done. The individual fish involved will tell how easily it can be done though.

edit: situations like mine or gator's can both happen, it all depends on the individual fish temperment.

 

[Roaddogz]

how big does a convict have to be for them to be ready to breed

 

[Nevergone815]

I've has cons at like 1-1.5" breeding. Once females show the orange bellies they're good to go . Males at the same time are good to go. At least in my experience.