Friend is rehoming convicts, can I make it work?

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Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2011
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Lansing, MI
I've seen some threads on here about convict tankmates but all of them were specific situations that don't apply to me, so I figured I would start a new one...

I have a friend who works in the University natural science department and they are overrun with breeding convicts. She wants to get rid of them and, being as she calls me, "a fish person," she wants me to take some. How many and what sex is up to me. I have an extra 90 gallon tank that isn't being used for anything, but honestly, I'm not very interested in having another tank set up with JUST convicts. What types of stocking options do I have that include convicts and other fish? Like I said, how many and what sex is completely flexible.

I have been researching, but everybody says something different. I must say I am kinda attracted to EBJDs and Green Terrors, but haven't been comfortable with any consensus I've read so far, compatibility-wise. Hoping you guys can help me here :)
 
IMO if you don't want the fish then why take them?
 
I would be interested in setting up another tank if I can keep other fish with them... not as excited about setting up a tank for only one species.
 
A Green Terror with a few same sex Cons would be an option. You usually run into problems with Convicts when you have a breeding pair of them. Having a couple of males with a green terror would probably be better. I have never kept EBJD but from most of the things that I read about them, they tend to be very sensitive to stress when young. I don't know how well a juvenile EBJD would live with overly aggressive Cons.
 
Set the tank up for a big flowerhorn or something, and tell your friend to try to sell them on craigslist or something ..

A breeding pair of convicts can be quite aggressive towards tannkmates..
 
Gruff Master said:
A Green Terror with a few same sex Cons would be an option. You usually run into problems with Convicts when you have a breeding pair of them. Having a couple of males with a green terror would probably be better. I have never kept EBJD but from most of the things that I read about them, they tend to be very sensitive to stress when young. I don't know how well a juvenile EBJD would live with overly aggressive Cons.
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I heard the same about EBJDs... but it's worth asking I suppose. :) Is it better to get two male cons or two female cons? I've read that it depends on the tankmates...

EDIT: My bad, I just re-read and saw you said males with a green terror... Just one green terror, I assume?
 
I'd stick with just male Cons because female Cons will still lay eggs without a mate and will defend the unfertilized eggs. Male Cons in an appropriately sized tank can grow to nice size with great flowing fins. they look better to me. Unless you are prepared to deal with the aggression that may come along with breeding, I wouldn't keep a mated pair of GTs either.
 
Excellent. That definitely makes setting up another tank worthwhile :) Thanks for the advice!

I am, of course, open to other options too :)
 
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