Purchasing Convicts

[DeepSeaFishin]

I am about to purchase a pair of convicts for my 29 gallon aquarium. I have several questions.

1) When Im actually at the store, will pairs already be formed? Or will I have to sex them at the store?

2) How do I exactly sex them? Ive read that the male's stripes become silver/metallic-like and the female gets orange spots on her sides. I also read that the female has a more rounded fin on the top of her body and the male is more pointed.

3) Will they be okay in a tank with 4 Giant Danios? All are around 3 inches.

4) In my research I have read that the male and female may fight during and after spawning?

Any additional info is also appreciated. Just wanna make sure I clarify things before I do something I would regret. Thanks!

Tom

 

[Gatorbait]

they may be paired up at the store but once you take them out and put them in yours there's no guarantee it will continue.

If they are small, which I assume they are, I would get 1 male and 3-4 females and let them sort it out. Take back the other females after a pair is formed.

Giant Danios would be fine with them and will help the pair bond.

You heard correct in the sexing.

 

[cheesy feet]

Adult males also have a bump on their head

 

[Gatorbait]

Adult males also have a bump on their head

Female cichlids also sometimes have a nuchal hump but you're right, it is another indication to generally go by.

 

[my fat fish]

i wouldent keep a pair in a tank with other fish as convicts breed like crazy and are protective of ther fry could har your othwr fish

 

[Gatorbait]

i wouldent keep a pair in a tank with other fish as convicts breed like crazy and are protective of ther fry could har your othwr fish

Giant Danios would be too quick for convicts.

IME, with cichlids is a good idea to have dither fish with a breeding pair. It helps the pair bond as they have something in common to do, protect the fry, and the male will usually not attack the female or at least not as bad with dithers in there.

 

[t1tanrush]

I am about to purchase a pair of convicts for my 29 gallon aquarium. I have several questions.

1) When Im actually at the store, will pairs already be formed? Or will I have to sex them at the store?
In the tank at petsmart the pair I got was formed, no other pairs had formed. Sexing is easy, orange belly for females, males have longer fins. If you see no pairs (they will stay closer together) than get a few males and a few females, wait for them to pair, and get rid of the rest.
2) How do I exactly sex them? Ive read that the male's stripes become silver/metallic-like and the female gets orange spots on her sides. I also read that the female has a more rounded fin on the top of her body and the male is more pointed.
Don't trust the stripes, its pretty easy once you see them you'll easily pick out males/females.
3) Will they be okay in a tank with 4 Giant Danios? All are around 3 inches.
Yes, Giant danios are recommended as dithers/target fish for many cichlids and I think you will be fine.
4) In my research I have read that the male and female may fight during and after spawning?
This is a possibility, make sure to have a hospital tank ready just in case, or if you need to seperate them. If you don't want the eggs/fry, just removeing them should fix the problem.

Any additional info is also appreciated. Just wanna make sure I clarify things before I do something I would regret. Thanks!
Mine started getting fiesty at 2", so be ready. They chased my larger ACF and I had to separate them.
Tom

they may be paired up at the store but once you take them out and put them in yours there's no guarantee it will continue.
It usually does continue, especially if they are bagged together, its not a real big deal with cons as they breed with everything.
If they are small, which I assume they are, I would get 1 male and 3-4 females and let them sort it out. Take back the other females after a pair is formed.
Agreed.
Giant Danios would be fine with them and will help the pair bond.
Yay pair bonding!
You heard correct in the sexing.

Adult males also have a bump on their head
Not always, sometimes large mature males will, but under most circumstances you won't find it in a petstore.

Adult males also have a bump on their head

Female cichlids also sometimes have a nuchal hump but you're right, it is another indication to generally go by.
Its a sign of dominance, females and males can both have them, don't rely on this feature.

i wouldent keep a pair in a tank with other fish as convicts breed like crazy and are protective of ther fry could har your othwr fish
I doubt he'd leave the fry in there forever, not to mention the danios are fast and will help keep fry population down.

 

[Gatorbait]

I Said-

they may be paired up at the store but once you take them out and put them in yours there's no guarantee it will continue.

Your Reply-

It usually does continue, especially if they are bagged together, its not a real big deal with cons as they breed with everything.

I Said-

Female cichlids also sometimes have a nuchal hump but you're right, it is another indication to generally go by.

Your Reply

Its a sign of dominance, females and males can both have them, don't rely on this feature.

Isn't that exactly what I said?

 

[t1tanrush]

Nope its not.

 

[Nevergone815]

they may be paired up at the store but once you take them out and put them in yours there's no guarantee it will continue.

If they are small, which I assume they are, I would get 1 male and 3-4 females and let them sort it out. Take back the other females after a pair is formed.

Giant Danios would be fine with them and will help the pair bond.

You heard correct in the sexing.

Just giving a second opinion on all this. It's spot on !!! Good luck with the spawning!!!

 

[Gatorbait]

Nope its not.

I disagree and it definitely is.

BTW, if you want to get nitpicky and technical then, bagging the fish together doesn't matter at all and convicts don't breed with everything nor does every male and female put together breed with each other. Far from it. Removing cichlids that are a pair at the lfs can most certainly disrupt the mating dynamics within a pair and it's definitely not a guarantee that they will mate or even like each other when put into a new home.

I said that females sometimes have a nuchal hump and it can be something that can be used in general. meaning it's not foolproof but as a helping indicator along with other indicators. You said the same and added don't rely on this feature. Thats exactly what I said.

 

[Nevergone815]

BTW, if you want to get nitpicky and technical then, bagging the fish together doesn't matter at all and convicts don't breed with everything nor does every male and female put together breed with each other. Far from it. Removing cichlids that are a pair at the lfs can most certainly disrupt the mating dynamics within a pair and it's definitely not a guarantee that they will mate or even like each other when put into a new home.

I, myself, have had great success in buying pairs together and bagging them and they just kick off what they had going hen they got to my tank. Though I've bought breeding pairs that have been long established pairs traded into the lfs, so that could have a great bearing on it. But in general I have ot agree, that this is not a 100% solid way to ensure a pair like you (Gatorbait) have said.

 

[DeepSeaFishin]

Alright, So would this picture be correct then for sexing?

And Im also looking out for orange spots on the females tummy...and they both should relatively be the same size.?

I want to get a breeding pair going to use the convict fry as feeders and also possibly put some females in their own tank. Thanks for the information everyone, Ill be stopping by petsmart to pick up a pair and i hope to get a successful and peaceful breeding operation. . Im still worried about the possibility of my danios getting nipped up, I just hope they will be fast enough for the convicts. Worst case is I take them back I guess.

 

[SamUK]

convicts make rabbits look infertile so you shouldnt have a problem!