Firemouths And Convicts.

[Ogrt48]

Ok, I'm moving in a week and will be redoing my 55g tank. I'm going to be getting rid of all the fish in there this week because they're too big for me to move so many states over.
Anyways right now I have 2 convicts in a 10g tank. They breed at least twice a month and I really enjoy them. I didn't know that the 10g is too small for them when I got them so once moved I'm planning on putting them into the 55g tank. Now I want something else in the 55g with them. I've always loved Texas Cichlids, Firemouths and Oscars. Oscars are too large to keep in a 55g I think though. I already have a Texas currently but he's really aggressive so I don't know if thatd be a good combo. Firemouths seem pretty gentle and so beautiful.. Would one or two of them in the 55g wit the 2 convicts be ok?

 

[cheesy feet]

They are breeding so it's a big nono.I tried mixing the two species in a 100 gallon tank but they would just fight all day..

 

[Ogrt48]

They are breeding so it's a big nono.I tried mixing the two species in a 100 gallon tank but they would just fight all day..

Hm, whats the smallest tank I can put the convicts in then/ They seem so happy in the 10g but I just think it's too small but I'm not going to waste a 55g on em ><

 

[ox5477]

They would be happy in a 30G or 40G prob. The 55G would be even better but I can understand your feeling. My JD is dominating my 55 right now. I might have to take out my pleco because eveytime I feed the tank, he harrasses her non-stop and won't let her eat.... its kind of annoying me but I still love him

I keep telling him that one day she is gonna get fed up and latch on to him and suck his scales off... but he must not be able to hear me...

 

[cheesy feet]

They are breeding so it's a big nono.I tried mixing the two species in a 100 gallon tank but they would just fight all day..

Hm, whats the smallest tank I can put the convicts in then/ They seem so happy in the 10g but I just think it's too small but I'm not going to waste a 55g on em ><

20 gal long would be fine really.

 

[t1tanrush]

10g is 100% fine. If they are doing fine and breeding then I'd say don't change a thing unless you have to. I know many people will say 20g for a pair, but I know some people have no problems with a pair in a 10g, and recommend it. I keep mine in a 10g...

 

[Nevergone815]

10g is 100% fine. If they are doing fine and breeding then I'd say don't change a thing unless you have to. I know many people will say 20g for a pair, but I know some people have no problems with a pair in a 10g, and recommend it. I keep mine in a 10g...

TBH, I breed cons all the time in a 10 gallon, then move the fry into a 55 gallon growout once they are about an inch or so big. 20+ gallons is the ideal condition, but remember this, if they breed (even convicts) they are happy then and comfortable with their environment. Switching them around and suddenly into a larger tank may make them nervous and you might get a little choas on your hands within the pair. Just my experieces though

 

[cheesy feet]

I disagree with keeping them in a 10 gallon,they could be easily stunted,i started mine of in a 40 gal then he moved to 100gal and was 6+ when he died

 

[Ogrt48]

10g is 100% fine. If they are doing fine and breeding then I'd say don't change a thing unless you have to. I know many people will say 20g for a pair, but I know some people have no problems with a pair in a 10g, and recommend it. I keep mine in a 10g...

TBH, I breed cons all the time in a 10 gallon, then move the fry into a 55 gallon growout once they are about an inch or so big. 20+ gallons is the ideal condition, but remember this, if they breed (even convicts) they are happy then and comfortable with their environment. Switching them around and suddenly into a larger tank may make them nervous and you might get a little choas on your hands within the pair. Just my experieces though

When do you remove the fry from the tank yourself? I heard cons are good parents and I might actually keep some fry once I get moved. Mine has kids about every 3-4 weeks but they normally eat them after 2 weeks.

 

[Nevergone815]

10g is 100% fine. If they are doing fine and breeding then I'd say don't change a thing unless you have to. I know many people will say 20g for a pair, but I know some people have no problems with a pair in a 10g, and recommend it. I keep mine in a 10g...

TBH, I breed cons all the time in a 10 gallon, then move the fry into a 55 gallon growout once they are about an inch or so big. 20+ gallons is the ideal condition, but remember this, if they breed (even convicts) they are happy then and comfortable with their environment. Switching them around and suddenly into a larger tank may make them nervous and you might get a little choas on your hands within the pair. Just my experieces though

When do you remove the fry from the tank yourself? I heard cons are good parents and I might actually keep some fry once I get moved. Mine has kids about every 3-4 weeks but they normally eat them after 2 weeks.

Depends on how long I really want ot wait before having more. Cons as with all cichlids I know of are great parents, though some are naturally better than others. Once you remove the babies form the parens though, they will start working on making more. In time you can be overrun. You can leave them in there, the parents will only allow eggs and fry to survive that there is room for, so that none of them are "weak". This though is in my experiences only. I've remove fry as young as 1-2 weeks old, others I left in there until the parents rejected them (you can tell when this happens as they will start to become aggressiv and territorial towards their offspring. When this happens, just move the "fry" whic hat that point will be decent sized juvis. I can't give an exact tell on a time frame or size because all parents will be slightly different, but just keep an eye out, you'll know when its time.

 

[t1tanrush]

I disagree with keeping them in a 10 gallon,they could be easily stumped,i started mine of in a 40 gal then he moved to 100gal and was 6+ when he died

Not as much as one would think...

 

[cheesy feet]

What?

 

[t1tanrush]

I think there is a common misunderstanding on stumping fish. I don't think a 10g will stump them as much as you would think. Not all fish stump badly.

 

[cheesy feet]

Convicts are pretty messy.

 

[Gatorbait]

I think there is a common misunderstanding on stumping fish. I don't think a 10g will stump them as much as you would think. Not all fish stump badly.

It's stunting, not stumping and you're giving out dangerous advice throughout this thread.

Even you menation ""I don't think a 10g will stump them as much as you would think." Meaning you know it would to some extent but you're fine with that as long as they aren't stunted very much.

Do you know what stunting does to a fish's vital organs?

A pair of convicts should NOT be in a 10g and if that's all you have then you should get rid of them.