Con Solo the Convict

[Matth05]

Another weekly video. I really just can't get enough of these guys. It's so fun coming up to the tank and see 20 or so baby convicts excited and begging for food. Looks like Solo and Leia have calmed down too and the aggression has decreased significantly between the two of them.

I may be pointing out the obvious here, but I've noticed Solo is a seriously good parent towards his young. Probably more so than Leia. For example, the other day during feeding time Leia was getting a bit clumsy around the youngsters trying to grab pellets. To Solo it must've seemed like she was trying to eat them. Didn't take long for him to decide he didn't like that, and gave her a pretty forceful nudge. Almost as if he was saying "What the hell are you doing?!" in his own cichlid kind of way.

 

[Matth05]

Been a little bit since I've updated. The young Cons are growing faster than ever at the moment, or it at least seems like it. All of them are about a half inch now minimum with some of the larger, more dominant ones pushing 3/4 of an inch. It's interesting to see that these guys have zero fear. Maybe it's because they've become so used to my presence essentially since they've been free swimming. They have no problem biting my hands during water changes, and I mean BITING. Some of the nips catch me by surprise and have quite a bit of force behind them lol.

Solo and Leia do their own thing now, away from the youngsters. I'm curious to see if they would even attempt a spawn with the little ones still around. She's the boss as always. He just follows her around like a lost puppy most of the time, apart from when he thinks food is being dropped in .

Towards the end of the video I tried my best to focus on the one Con that was almost white and barely showing bars. Well, just as you said FINWIN , the little guy now has bars lol. He's still different enough from the others that I can spot him very easily. By pure chance too that particular youngster is one of the largest of the bunch and has to be the most aggressive. He basically claimed that entire area in front of the fake log for himself. You'd think this fish was a little 3/4 inch Midas with the way he asserts himself towards the others.

I'll be honest, the idea of keeping one for a short period to grow out the in the 29g has been bouncing around in my head. I just don't know if it's worth using that tank for something else other than a backup, in the off chance I have to separate Solo and Leia.

 

[FINWIN]

Chances are if Solo and Leia are ready to spawn again you'll notice open hostility to their current fry and wanting 'space.' They'll go to their area and chase 'em all off. Once they stop guarding and defending fry they're on their own. All fish moms aren't equal that's for sure...Reeva was the worst. After one week she was done and let Mongo do all the work.

Yah these cons and hrps with their bar/no bar stuff. Buddy still pops on and off like a jammed light with his stripes. The females are a hoot, clipping the big males on the tail when they aren't looking. I'm going to give an update later about the hrp clan.

Healthy little nuggets, lol

 

[Matth05]

Didn’t even realize how long it’s been since I’ve posted an update. Usual end of the semester craziness so I have been a bit distracted lately lol. But I’ve got a short video to share.

I was starting to get a bit worried about growth rate, but some fellow members have helped ease my mind on that front. The little juvies are doing great. I’m starting to see glimpses of color in them. For example some of the larger ones are starting to express blue hues in their fins. They eat and beg for food everyday like they’ve never seen food in their lives. Just big enough now to grab 1mm NLS pellets too (which I think are a bit smaller than 1mm in actuality).

On a bit more of a serious note, I’m eventually going to have to bring these little juvies to an lfs and that time is probably going to be pretty soon. When I do that I think I’m going to separate Solo and Leia again. I think a break from each other is needed and in all honesty I’m not too sure what these next few months will look like, especially when it comes to having enough time to take care of these animals. I start an internship with campus police at my college in the fall so not entirely sure what that’ll mean for these tanks. Just something that I’m keeping in mind and I bet having a bunch of fry on my hands again probably won’t make things easier lol.

Enough rambling, here’s a video of the buggers

 

[Matth05]

Bit of a situation. I’m almost certain that Leia is gearing up to spawn. She’s fully barred up and guarding that same corner of the log, even from the juveniles. This might of just disrupted some plans that I had.

Was actually planning on buying a group of 6 green swordtails from TUIC this week to QT in the 29g. Already mentioned that I wanted to separate the two for the time being once I removed the juveniles. I really didn’t want Solo to be in the 75 alone without some dithers so that was going to be my solution. Feel like having the swordtails with him previously made such a huge difference in his confidence.

Was hoping Leia would hold out for a just a few more weeks, at least until I removed the juveniles and comfortably put those swords in the 75, after quarantine ofc, with Solo. Then put Leia into the 29. At least that was the plan. Now I’m not sure what to do to be honest.

There’s also the concern of the safety of these juveniles now, if Leia and Solo do manage to have another successful spawn. She’s not exactly peaceful, going off of past experiences with the previous orange swordtails.

 

[FINWIN]

The older babies should be fine. She'll probably chase a couple some but most of her energy will go to the new group. It's hard fighting/chasing multiple fish as fast as you all day. And babies are elusive asf.

My juvie/teen hrp fry are very resilient and just dart around like a whirlwind when chased. The adults stop trying after a while and just move them away from their 'spot.'

 

[Matth05]

The older babies should be fine. She'll probably chase a couple some but most of her energy will go to the new group. It's hard fighting/chasing multiple fish as fast as you all day. And babies are elusive asf.

My juvie/teen hrp fry are very resilient and just dart around like a whirlwind when chased. The adults stop trying after a while and just move them away from their 'spot.'

Fortunately I think I lucked out with this whole situation. TUIC has agreed to take the juvenile cons when I grab the swordtails. It’s totally probable that I’m being paranoid (per usual ) and the juveniles will be fine just like you said. But watching Leia chase the little ones around, with the essentially the same level of aggression as the orange swordtails before removing them. She’s a little firecracker.

I still find it crazy how polar opposite these two are with their personalities lol. Solo is quite literally harmless. Patiently waits for his food most of the time. Leia, complete opposite. Aggressive as all hell, bites fingers when it’s time to eat, and hits the top of the water like a little 2.5 inch bass would lol.

Hopefully by the time this next spawn is on their own, Leia and the swordtails could swap tanks, and I can finally give these two another short break from each other lol.

 

[FINWIN]

Leia sounds like my three ultra-aggressive females: Speck, Harlequin and Reeva. They pick random fights, dive bomb big males and are screwballs in general. And that's before they had babies!

 

[Matth05]

Got some new/good things to share. First things first, I think we got another successful spawn from Solo and Leia! Turned the lights on to see a new pit right outside the fake log, she must've dug this pit out overnight. Couple hours later and she's totally focused on this pit, so I'm suspecting there's fry that just hatched today in there. Only thing is I can't see in the dang pit lol. Can't really get a good angle. I'll make sure to have BBS on hand if there truly is fry in there. Little bit of drama from Leia in the vid too. It's like Solo's allowed to patrol nearby but isn't allowed too close just yet lol. She does the same thing when she lays eggs in the log.

Second thing, the swordtails from TUIC. They've been setting into their QT for a few days now, doing fantastic so far. Going to have these guys in QT until I feel comfortable moving Leia back into the 29, once the fry are essentially on their own. These are specifically 'Otapa' swords. I was originally just looking for regular green swordtails, but these guys were listed at a really good price for a group of 6 (2m4f) and I'm local enough to where I didn't need to worry about shipping. I'm willing to bet going to an LFS to buy swordtails would've been similar if not even more.

These fish are like bullets, more hyperactive than the previous swordtails. I can't even imagine keeping these fish in this size tank long term. And they're not even close to fully grown!

 

[FINWIN]

Got some new/good things to share. First things first, I think we got another successful spawn from Solo and Leia! Turned the lights on to see a new pit right outside the fake log, she must've dug this pit out overnight. Couple hours later and she's totally focused on this pit, so I'm suspecting there's fry that just hatched today in there. Only thing is I can't see in the dang pit lol. Can't really get a good angle. I'll make sure to have BBS on hand if there truly is fry in there. Little bit of drama from Leia in the vid too. It's like Solo's allowed to patrol nearby but isn't allowed too close just yet lol. She does the same thing when she lays eggs in the log.

Second thing, the swordtails from TUIC. They've been setting into their QT for a few days now, doing fantastic so far. Going to have these guys in QT until I feel comfortable moving Leia back into the 29, once the fry are essentially on their own. These are specifically 'Otapa' swords. I was originally just looking for regular green swordtails, but these guys were listed at a really good price for a group of 6 (2m4f) and I'm local enough to where I didn't need to worry about shipping. I'm willing to bet going to an LFS to buy swordtails would've been similar if not even more.

These fish are like bullets, more hyperactive than the previous swordtails. I can't even imagine keeping these fish in this size tank long term. And they're not even close to fully grown!

LOL I see Solo's trailers are missing again. Leia must be up to her antics.