Breeding/sexing questions for two species...

[Keeper of the Ropes]

I'll say first that I've never owned either species I'm asking about...

I'm going to breed either jack d.s or black convicts for feeder purposes ~ I want to compare both species before I decide which to breed.

Which species has the most fry in one breeding?
Which species' fry grows the fastest?
How often can they produce fry?
How do I sex them?
Any opinions on which species would be more nutritional? (Feeding to bichirs and ropefish)
Can I keep the species together if I can't decide and try to breed both?

Sorry to ask so many questions - feeling a bit naive at the moment.

<*<>{ KOTR <*<>{

 

[Plumber]

Don't know about JD's but I do breed cons for feeders.
Mine produce about 100 once or twice a month.
They get to be about 1 1/2" long in about 6 weeks.
The males are generally larger than the females and have long flowing anal and dorsal fins, the females fins are shorter and blunter and she will get an orangeish tint on her belly when shes ready to breed. This color dissappears after she has laid her eggs.
As far as nutritional quality, I would guess cons and JD's are about the same. I gutload the crap out of mine with highnutrient foods. There have been many convict threads lately so you may find more info in those. Hope that helps.

 

[importracer]

Don't know diddly about JDz......

Wayyyy back, when I had my shoal of reds and caribe, I had a con pair. I managed to spawn the cons 2-3 times a month. At seven days old, I would seperate the fry in 10g tanks(sponge filter, small watt heater, no substrate) and gut load on flakes.