Breeding Convicts - a few general questions

[letstalkfish]

I'd like to try my hand at breeding, and I know convicts are a nice and easy start. I have plenty of room and plans for fry, and have some questions about breeding in general.


I know convicts are pretty good at taking care of their young, but is there a certain point at which I should seperate the fry from the parents (like take them and put them in a seperate growout tank,) or do I just leave them in there?

In the breeding tank (probably a 10g with 1-2 20 longs for growouts) could I get away with running just a sponge filter?

Any tips on breeding these guys? I know there isn't much stimulation needed, but how about tips for maximizing the number of suriving fry?

 

[Dr.B]

I'm fairly new to breeding convicts, but so far from what i've observed and what i've researched the faster you take them out the faster they'll spawn again. As far as taking them out i think thats a personal preference. I would take mine out at the .5 range. Either around that range or when the parents start to show aggression or spawning behavior. Honestly i think they could careless about a filter. Mines been broken for about a week now (got them about 5 days ago) and they spawned. As long as you're feeding them and they have a place they feel comfortable in they avidly spawn.

 

[ErnieG]

These guys are the easiest cichlid to breed so dont over think it, they do better in a larger tank like a 40breeder or better if you want lots of fry. You could breed them in a 20 long dont breed them in a 10gal, breed them in a 20long and when the babies are free swimming for a week take the parents out and put them in another 2olong and they will breed again.

 

[pleco808]

convicts are the easiest to breed i bought a 2 breeding pair now i got thousands i have to use them as feeder fishes lol

 

[Anchovie]

Mine kill their young when they get to be a half inch. They breed just fine in a 10 gallon, but less space will result in dead females. Better to put em in a 20 long. Have a 10 gal set up for fry when they are a few weeks old, then transfer them to their own 20 long. By the time you put them in the 20, you'll have new fry to put in the 10. After they outgrow the 20, you'll prob only have about 30% of the original batch. That's the time when you'll want to either trade them in, or use them for feeders. I've done this countless times without ever using tanks over 29 gallons. Using a 40b for a couple of 4" fish is ridiculous IMO. That being said, you'll want to have a lot of room if you plan on having any tankmates, since the cons easily outmatch most other fish when they are breeding. One other thing, remove fry from parents in stages, over a few days. Taking all the fry at once will make the parents turn on each other.


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[Brown Water]

I know convicts are pretty good at taking care of their young, but is there a certain point at which I should seperate the fry from the parents (like take them and put them in a seperate growout tank,) or do I just leave them in there?

I always left mine in the tank and the parents would breed again, but I was not concerned with maximizing fry production in any way shape or form.

In the breeding tank (probably a 10g with 1-2 20 longs for growouts) could I get away with running just a sponge filter?

I use sponge filters in almost all my tanks, they are great with fry and grown fish IMO.

Any tips on breeding these guys? I know there isn't much stimulation needed, but how about tips for maximizing the number of suriving fry?

baby brine shrimp. cons would probably take frozen if you dont want to do live, but live is better.

 

[RampageRR]

If you want the fry to survive, remove them or the parents within 3 weeks or so. If they decide to spawn again with the fry in the tank, they will eat them all within a matter of a few minutes.