Convict breeding

[Industrial]

So I recently acquired two convicts from somebody who was moving. Originally I planned on giving the convicts to a LFS, but then I decided that I need to start getting some healthier feeders.

The owner had them in a 55g at 70 degrees with two JDs and a crayfish. He said the convicts never bred, he had them for about a year.

Right now they are in a 20 gallon at 70 degrees (I may put in a heater) and there are no signs of desire to breed between the two. The guy said one was male and the other was female. The one hides in the cave and bullys the other one during feeding or if it gets too close to the cave. I am thinking that one is the male.

I want to know why the convicts won't breed. Is there anything that I am missing?

 

[nater]

Turn the temp up around 80, 70 seems too cold for breeding imo. Also make sure you have a male and female. A female will have a splotch of color in the middle of its body and male will just have stripes with no color.

 

[HypeMan808]

I find that kind of hard to believe. I have bred convicts in 70 degree water temperatures up to 80 with no problem. I'd have to agree with nater and see if you do have a male and female convict.

 

[Foster]

It sounds more like you have two of the same sex, your talking about some really really horny fish. Do you have flat rocks or a surface for them to lay eggs on?

 

[importracer]

So I recently acquired two convicts from somebody who was moving. Originally I planned on giving the convicts to a LFS, but then I decided that I need to start getting some healthier .......................................
I want to know why the convicts won't breed. Is there anything that I am missing?

Female convicts have yellow to red blotches on their tummy.....I have NEVER heard of a convict pair that has not bred within a month of being established...........

 

[Lissaspence]

do they have a cave or something they can hide in? I would say to bump up the temp a bit and start feeding high protein foods like blood worms and brine shrip.

 

[importracer]

do they have a cave or something they can hide in? I would say to bump up the temp a bit and start feeding high protein foods like blood worms and brine shrip.

My easiest setup:

10g
bare bottom
half cracked potting pot, layed on its side
temperature:78-82 degrees
Diet of Hikari pellets, tubikex worms or bloodworms(your choice), brine shrimp

 

[ballinouttacntrol]

you have babies yet?

 

[Bazinga]

Female convicts have yellow to red blotches on their tummy.....I have NEVER heard of a convict pair that has not bred within a month of being established...........

i had 8 in a tank 4 from one store 2 from a free pick up and another 2 from another store, had them for about a year, no breeding what so ever, temps were up ones had colour on their tummy others didnt...

 

[Industrial]

you have babies yet?

No they are males

I am taking one back to my LFS and I will have to try to find a 3-4" female somewhere.

I thought the one had a bit of a pink belly, but that one has become extremely aggressive towards the other convict which I was sure was a male, so I guess I got two males.