minimum tank size for a convict couple

[duendecillo]

What's the minimum tank size for a convict couple?
And the best setup? (rocks, flower pots, substrate?)

 

[thecichlidaddict]

20 Gallon Long is the absolute minimum. Remember, they may seem small when you get them but males (should) grow to 6", not a tiny fish. They just need a place to use as a spawning site. A cave is needed, what you use to make it is personal choice, as is substrate, though sand is always nice in a cichlid tank.

 

[duendecillo]

okay, thanx!

 

[Dragonscales]

I have sand in a tank at the moment and am getting 4 convicts thursday, I also have some pieces of driftwood with hollows underneath them to use as caves. There is some val and banana lillies in the tank as well and I plan on getting some more plants (maybe some bigger leaved ones, like dragons flame or something) and a few flowerpots maybe later on. Hope this helps some

 

[iloveyou]

i kept a pair in a 10 and the male killed the female..

i have 2 pairs in a 20 right now... none of em have messed fins yet, but there are 2 day old babies in there... the dominant male doesnt like any other fish near his babies, but the other fish are smart enough to hide in one of the many hiding places in the tank..


lots of pots/caves are good..

the more the better id say... i have like 6 diff places in the 20.. so each fish has a place to hide

 

[EX-AmP]

for life? a 20 would be good enough. personally, i let the female and male breed in a 10 and when the male's job is done, hes out. when they become free swimming the female is taken out as well

 

[JeremyD]

To quote a friend of mine:

"You can put a pair of convicts in a wet sock and they'll spawn"


In all honesty, I've seen a pair live happily in tanks as small as 10 gallons. Provided there are enough caves for them to hide out, they should be ok. I would seriously recommend at least a 15 gallon though. Just because the fish will survive doesnt mean they are all that happy

 

[Labtec]

10 gallons will suffice