All male or all female convict tank

[Jighead]

Everyone has heard the story of convicts spawning and killing all of the fish in the tank. I am playing with the idea of using a 29 gallon to create an all male or all female convict tank to keep the aggression and spawning to a minimum.

I have a few questions

1. Are there any advantages to having male convicts over female convicts? or vice versa?

2. How do you think that a school of fast target fish to occupy the upper layer of the tank such as zebra danios or a type of tetra do?

3. Would other cichlid tankmates be possible? (such as firemouths)

My original thought was 3-4 male or female convicts and a school of fast target fish in a sand bottom tank.

I like the idea of other cichlid tankmates and another possible setup might be 2-3 male or female convicts and single firemouth or other compatible cichlid also with a school of fast target fish in a sand bottom tank.


Thanks - Jighead

 

[jsfunk78]

I like female convicts, because they got red/orange patch on the side.
in your 29g, I think 2 would be alright and plus a firemouth.

 

[Tongue33]

1. Are there any advantages to having male convicts over female convicts? or vice versa?
Males get larger and develop a knuckle hump, Also less aggressive..Especially without as female

2. How do you think that a school of fast target fish to occupy the upper layer of the tank such as zebra danios or a type of tetra do? Eh... no real need

3. Would other cichlid tankmates be possible? (such as firemouths)
Possible but Male cons get up to 6"

My original thought was 3-4 male or female convicts and a school of fast target fish in a sand bottom tank. Sounds fun i would get something colorful though like Neons

I like the idea of other cichlid tankmates and another possible setup might be 2-3 male or female convicts and single firemouth or other compatible cichlid also with a school of fast target fish in a sand bottom tank. Possible.

 

[skinless]

I like female convicts, because they got red/orange patch on the side.
in your 29g, I think 2 would be alright and plus a firemouth.

good idea. if looking for a non breeding 29g con stocking, females would be a nice choice to mix in.

 

[Darthsniper]

I would go with all females only for the better color and slightly smaller size so u could have more.

 

[Toby_H]

I've kept single sex groups of Convicts as all male as well as all female in different situations.
I've found Convicts make great target fish for larger Cichlids. Pound for pound, they are possibly the toughest of the CA/SA Cichlids, but they stay much smaller than the notorious heavy hitters. But that smaller size allows them to fit into caves and tunnels the bigger fish can't.

As other have suggested for your situation, all females is a better approach. They stay smaller, are less territorial and have some color in their bellies.

A 29 Gal is still a pretty small tank when considering groups of Cichlids.
I think your best bet would be to get a larger group of tiny females and raise them together, expecting to remove the runts and bullies keeping fish from the middle of the group.
Though I understand that's a difficult ask. I've done this by obtaining a pair, once they breed rehome the parents and raise the offspring. Then rehome or cull whatever I don't want out of that group.
This approach also makes this more of a long term project, which I enjoy. I'm not sure if it suits your interests though.

I personally wouldn't add any other Cichlids.
Adding a Firemouth for example, will likely work, but will reduce the number of female Convicts you are able to keep. And a group of 5 female Convicts will be far more stable than a group of 3. Because there are more targets for aggression to be distributed among.


All that said... There are other species that may be more suitable for a 29 gallon, and just as interesting.
Any of the Apistograma. Rams. Kribs, which there is a thread about in this same folder.

 

[Aquarium Therapy]

I’ve read somewhere that female cons can clone themselves if left long enough with no males. parthenogenesis I think it’s called. Though I think a single female has to be left in isolation for it to occur.

 

[tlindsey]

MoI’ve read somewhere that female cons can clone themselves if left long enough with no males. parthenogenesis I think it’s called. Though I think a single female has to be left in isolation for it to occur.

Welcome aboard
That's insane but life of a Convict Cichlid will find a way

 

[Roger Mcfish]

Welcome aboard
That's insane but life of a Convict Cichlid will find a way

Guess they get their training from Naruto