What can I keep with Convicts?

[nc_nutcase]

I think the key to what you said about keeping pairs of convicts together is :

fish won't be happy and your aim as a responsible and knowledgeable fish-keeper should be to provide your fish with an environment in which they can thrive

Our goal is not to find the smallest environment which fish can survive... it's to re-create a piece of nature in our homes to offer them. Housing a prisoner fish in a glass box isn't being a pet owner.

 

[lucky62]

Have you considered dwarf cichlids , I keep Apistogramma cacatuoides 1 m 2 f , lateacara curviceps m/f, nannacara anomala m/f in a 70 gal . All tolerant of each other , little aggression , and easy to care for .

Apisto borelli in the past
I also keep 2 Anomalochromis thomasi [ west African ] in a 20 gal long [30"] .

I've kept blue and Bolivian rams in the past Bolivians aren't as colorful , but IME were easier to keep .
Lateacara dorsiger in the past , very similar to curviceps .
I've kept kribs , Also easy to keep , also west African .


All these types of fish except both microgeophagus species and the borelli [ no females ] have bred under my care at one time or another with other fish in the tanks , and aggression was pretty much minimal , with exception to the kribs when other small cichlids are in the tank , it's a good idea to move someone .

All seem to tolerate other tank mates well [ non cichlids] .

A Severum would be ok in your tank short term , but would end up very crowded , and probably unhappy in the long run just my opinion


I also keep badis badis , tateurndina ocellicauda [ peacock gudgeons ], and a couple of dwarf sized gouramis [ 1 honey , 1 croaker ] them and sparkling gouramis do ok in groups .

Sorry you didn't get a bigger tank , but you have many alternatives .

I like to keep fish that stay under 4" , my son is another story .


Also in the past I've kept Orange chromides an Asian cichlid , and had them breed , they rquire brackish water as they age , but hard [ very hard ] fresh water works well for young specimins . Awsome fish .

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

I am definalty not "set" on cichlids...however they are usually the most brightly colored and intelligent freshwater/brackish fish.

Not true.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

That is just depressing. I spent over 100$ on a 29g so I could keep bigger fish...now you are saying a 29 is not big enough for anything? I am not made of money, and I really am quite p/oed that I can only keep mollie sized fish in a 29g. Why does the fish index here say a 30g is suitable for a severum if it isnt true? I am confused and massivly upset. I dont like wasting my money.

I'm not going to sound too nice when I say this, but quit your whining. I can get a 300 gallon locally for $150... of course, it's a pre-fab pond, but is fine for fish. I don't why you got a 29 gallon tank and expected to keep large fish in it. When you have a 3' RTC outgrowing a 300, then we'll talk.

 

[Jezah]

The 29 was a kit, actually cheaper than buying everything seperate. As well, I am going to stick to what my mom told me. If you cant say anything nice Black_ghost_guy...dont say anything at all. Good for you that you can get a 300g for 150$. Now quit bragging and if you cant say something useful, please refrain from posting.

 

[FrAnK3333]

All cons when breeding will kill everything in a 29 gallon expect maybe a pleco, you will end up with one pair and the extra female will get killed. Sverums need to be in a 55 gallon tank...300 gallon tank for $150 Id grab that in a second.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

They're stock tanks, anyone can get them at almost any agricultural store. As for you Jezah, again, get off of your high horse. If what I'm saying is constructive, but not always nice, tough. Deal with it, you're only 6 years younger than me. Somethings need to be said, nice or not. I've helped you out, or at least tried to in this thread, but you just don't get it. Frankly, it appears to me that just about all that you've been doing in this thread is suggesting totally asinine ideas, and then when those of us with experience in the subject at hand tell you what it is (an asinine idea), then you shoot us down for it, and start whining. We all hate to hear this, but fish DO outgrow tanks, and can NOT stay in whatever tank that we want them to for life. Be reasonable.
Now, back on track.
What are you open to aside from cichlids? A thermometer knife could live in that tank for life, as well as, say, a raphael cat. Or halfbeaks. Or South American puffers. Or African butterfly fish. The list goes on, and on, and on.

 

[lucky62]

The 29 was a kit, actually cheaper than buying everything seperate. As well, I am going to stick to what my mom told me. If you cant say anything nice Black_ghost_guy...dont say anything at all. Good for you that you can get a 300g for 150$. Now quit bragging and if you cant say something useful, please refrain from posting.

I don't think he's bragging , what he's talking about is a pond , not a glass aquarium , an it would afford you a whole lot more room as well , though the fish would more than likely be viewed from above . Fish don't always have to go in glass cases .[ It is nice to see them from the sides though ].


Sounds like he's trying to help you find a way to get what you want , at a reasonable cost .


Would you be able to keep a larger tank ? Check the classifieds in your local news paper for something used , or maybe a discount from your place of employment .


DWARFS

 

[nc_nutcase]

Jezah... for the benefit of your local community... put off working in a fish store a couple more years...

You have been told many 'harsh' statements. That's not because we are mean and vengeful people, it's because you are arrogantly attached to your misconceptions about fish. I have no reason to think that your desire to raise fish in a healthy environment is anything but sincere and sincerity is one of the fundamental qualities in becoming a wonderful fish keeper. But, you have been given some misinformation and regardless of how qualified/experienced the people you talk to are, unless they confirm the misinformation you've previously attached yourself to you criticize us.

I agree the principal of 'If you don't have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all'. I also understand sometimes "life ain’t easy" and "the truth hurts." At the end of the day "If you can't take the heat get out of the kitchen."

 

[freddyk]

Just because you can get a good deal on a big tank, doesn't mean it's wise to buy it. Larger tanks are more expensive to accessorize, more expensive to stock, more expensive to decorate, and more expensive to maintain. It is not a one time cost we're talking about. Recommending to someone to get a tank beyond their means is not the best solution IMO. Recommending decent fish for the aquarium at hand is what we're after.

I'd like to mention some of the bad ideas i've heard.

Recommending a large, aggressive fish like a Texas - it will out grow the tank, and it will do it fast, and in the mean time it's stuck in these cramped quarters. For the sake of the fish and the aquarist, stick to fish that will not outgrow the tank.

A 29 gallon is not the same as a 30 gallon. The 29 is like a 20, but tall. For cichlids we MUST think in terms of dimensions, not volume - territories are defined by surface area.

To keep cichlids in a 29 gallon tank the options are limited. Small tanks mean small fish... period. And i don't care if somebody kept this or that, this doesn't make it right. My very first cichlids were two Oscars. I kept them, on the reliable advice of the LFS, in a 35 gallon tank. Raise you're hands if you think this is right. Hmmm... no takers - but I did it, and that doesn't make it right.

Now, if I may suggest - a colony or harem of shell dwellers will allow you to have multiple cichlids, and while they are not big in size, they're huge in character. In addition, they stick to the bottom, allowing you to use the height of the tank for schoaling fish, which will be ignored by the cichlids. Add yourself a pleco if you like, and you have nice little aquarium with lots of character. I've even seen planted shell dweller tanks.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Jezah]

Wow. Fish forums just lost a faithful poster. I never expected to be attacked like this. I also hate to throw a pity party, but I have tried to kill myself 2 times out of low self esteem. I am also suffering with crohns disease. This job is the one high-point in my crappy life, and I was so happy about it. Thank you all so much for making me cry and doubt myself when I shouldnt. You all should be seriously ashamed of yourself. Goodbye.

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

 

[Black_Ghost_Guy]

Just because you can get a good deal on a big tank, doesn't mean it's wise to buy it. Larger tanks are more expensive to accessorize, more expensive to stock, more expensive to decorate, and more expensive to maintain. It is not a one time cost we're talking about. Recommending to someone to get a tank beyond their means is not the best solution IMO. Recommending decent fish for the aquarium at hand is what we're after.

Just wanted to clear something up, like I said, anyone can get one of these tanks, and he said that he wanted larger fish, so I reccomended a decently-priced tank that a younger person such as himself would have the best chance to afford. Also, if anyone wants to know of a good place to get cheap, large wet/dry filters, feel free to PM me.

 

[Dragonscales]

I personally think your suggestion was a great one black ghost.

A 29 gal costing $100 compared to a 300 gal costing $150 can make the cost for each tank negligable, especially if you have any sense on how to stock and decorate a tank cheaply - which is wholly possible. Buying fish and plants through a club is alot cheaper than through an lfs and sometimes won't even cost you a cent if you find a few generous people there who are willing to trade or even give away some fry.

Rocks and driftwood can be found easily with a little looking around and cost nothing more than a few bucks in petrol and a bit of time walking. Sand can also be brought cheap if you go to a landscaping joint who sells gravels, dirt, sands, etc.

Regardless, the poster said they would be able to fork out for a larger tank once they start working, so how is that any more of a problem than spending $150 for a 300 gal than the rediculous price they will pay through an lfs for a much smaller tank? For the money they could save, they could have a fully decorated and stocked (through an lfs) 300 gal compared to an empty 75 gal. And if they played it smart and found a fish club near them as well as a bit of scouting around for materials to decorate the tank, then it would be money in the bank rather than in the lfs pocket.

As for maintaining a big tank, larger water volume equals more stable parameters so can cost alot less in the long run if you consider having to buy meds for sick fish, replacment stock, etc, etc. Bigger is ALWAYS better in 99% of cases, especially for the fish. And even then, that 1% comes down to space restrictions, money, structual integrity of your house, your wife/husband threatening for a divorce because your fishkeeping hobby is going to far, etc.

Good on you for giving an excellent alternative black ghost

 

[PUDincONE]

Wow. Fish forums just lost a faithful poster. I never expected to be attacked like this. I also hate to throw a pity party, but I have tried to kill myself 2 times out of low self esteem. I am also suffering with crohns disease. This job is the one high-point in my crappy life, and I was so happy about it. Thank you all so much for making me cry and doubt myself when I shouldnt. You all should be seriously ashamed of yourself. Goodbye.

You have got to be kidding me...If he just listened to everyone's advice in the first place this whole thing could have been avoided...you can't ask a question and then get mad when you hear the answer.