Big mistake?

[sick_lid]

Do not get a jewel, just like a con, and I would assume the cons would destroy it.. You could go with a few kinds of barbs, larger danios; just start with the cheapest option and see if it works.

 

[rudywieck52]

ya thats what I figured. I still can't decide what to do though. Any other ideas on a dither?

 

[belle_foudre]

With your setup you dont really have room for any. The 2 cons need at least 20 gallons so that leaves you with 9 gallons to play with and there are not really alot of other fish that can live in 9 gallons that can handle convicts. if you want to get other fish your going to have to get a larger tank!

 

[Toby_H]

I have had a full grown pair of convicts in my 29g tank for about 6 months now. They usually did ok. Breeding, fighting, breeding ect until about a month ago when my female seemed way too close to death. I decided to get a dither and went to petco and got a yellow african cichlid. It did well and added a lot to the tank so I decided to leave him in. I then came home from work two days later and my dad had added two more africans. I have had two convicts (5 inches and 3 inches) and 3 africans (all about 2 inches) for about a month now. It has worked so far but I'm worried it won't last. Any advice would be greatly appretiated. Thanks for reading.

I think... You should go to your dad and say since he added the extra Africans that put you "over the edge", he needs to buy you a new tank to house them properly... see where that angle gets you...

Adding Cichlids of similar size and aggression as the centerpiece fish is not adding "dithers"... it is adding "tankmates"... and your 29 gallon does not have room for "tankmates" in addition to your Convict pair...

If you wish to keep "dithers" in the 29 gal w/ a Convict pair that's fine... but adding fish that will compete with the Con pair will not work out long term... actually I feel your lucky it's worked out this far.

When you talk to your dad use terms like "I've been educating myself on the fish"... and "I want to be responsible with this"... It's important to know how to manipulate people... I mean talk to people...