Breeding Convicts

[Community Disorganizer]

I came home from work today to find the male convict belly up! No idea what happened. Just yesterday, he was charging off any fish who came too close to the fry for his liking, and was eating/bahaving like normal. The pair were never bothered by the other fish in the tank from what I saw, and he looked intact, besides a bloated belly, when I took him out. Hopefully I get a male to survive out of the fry, or I will probably end up buying another one. They are in a 72x18x20 tank.

Do you have any other fish in the tank with them that might be capable of killing the con? I know it's not common, and convicts are some pretty tough fish, but all is fine in my aquarium until I turn the lights off. Then my kenyi seems to go nuts, and challenges my male convict every night.

 

[RTCfan86]

I have a couple bala sharks, a salvini, an oscar, and a sun cat. No one is larger than 3 inches, but the convicts are the smallest. They never let anyone come close to their spot, and no one ever challenged them besides some flaring up from a far.

 

[Community Disorganizer]

I have a couple bala sharks, a salvini, an oscar, and a sun cat. No one is larger than 3 inches, but the convicts are the smallest. They never let anyone come close to their spot, and no one ever challenged them besides some flaring up from a far.

Well, every fish is different, but I beleive that Salvinis have an aggressive streak, and since you say they are all larger then the cons, it's entirely possible that the Sal killed your con. Especially since you said there was flaring from afar. When you shut the aquarium lights off, it's a totally different game. I could be totally wrong. So, you just have the female con with her fry in now? How is that going?

 

[RTCfan86]

She seems to be doing just fine. No one messess with her, from what I see, and she is quick to chase anyone off who comes too close. Remaining fry are starting to grow. I may have around 15 or so left.

 

[Jc1119]

All I've ever had to do to get cons to breed is add water.......

that being said, they will fight any fish of any size and temperament sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. My money is on the Salvini as well

 

[MikeyBizzle]

what size do convicts need to be to start breeding?

 

[Cybercyde]

It very well could have been the female he spawned with. They get serious in a hurry when they decide to really go after something. It's usually too fast to intervene unless you're sitting there watching, and the tide turns fast. I've had a few pairs go after each other randomly.

what size do convicts need to be to start breeding?

Most will say over an inch or two. I've had spawns at 3/4". (Females tend to grow very slowly in groups when there's other dominant fish around, so they may be mature before conventional wisdom says they're ready size wise.)

 

[doomiedee]

I'm fairly new to Black Convicts, so I'm not familiar with their behavior. Is it normal for the male to chase the female around the tank?

yeah it is normal for the male to chase the female that how he trys to get her attention maybe tr some hiding place she can hide in but he cant so that way she can get away from him when she needs to becuz he will kill her

 

[GrantA94]

I have had them spawn in both a pot on it's side and an upside down pot with a hole. Most success with the upside down pot as the entrance and exit is smaller, making it easier to protect the eggs and fry.

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