Convict Cichlid Growth?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

bethie_dawn

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 30, 2006
120
0
0
AR
I found a baby black convict at my LFS yesterday and I was woundering if I could but it in a 10 gallon by itself. Right now it is only about a inch long and am not sure of the sex. I also was woundering if it is keep completely alone would it be ok and how big of a tank would I need to get when it gets full grown.
Thanks
 
It would do fine in a 10 gallon for quite a while. When full grown a 20 is more than adequate. Some will keep them in a 10 for life.
 
Good then I will go back tommorw and pray it is still there. It was only 99 cents and I find that exciting.
Would I be able to put it in with a 20 gallon with 2 baby blue rams that are the same size then move it to the 10 when it got bigger.
 
Convicts are some of the most agressive fish in the hobby, killing fish twice their size.

They get insanely agressive around the time they spawn. Rams are pretty peacefull, I wouldn't risk it in such a small tank, but if ya do make sure ya keep a close eye on them.
 
But to answer the question at hand... yes, you can put them in the 20g for now. They will be fine. Just don't forget to separate them down the road.
 
Also, it is too early to tell the sex unless it is well colored. If it has bright orange in the belly region and along the dorsal fin, then it is a female. If not, it does not mean it is a male. Females with little or no orange coloring can be determined from the top and bottom fins. When they reach 1 1/2 to 2 inches, the males fins will grow long and pointy at the tip. The fins will reach to the end of the tail. Females fins will remain rounded on the tip and will not reach to the end of the tail but just past the base.

A convict generally does not reach the agressiveness as when it is paired up and defending territory or fry. They will however pair up with non-convicts so be watchful of changing behavior.

Also be watchfull of ragged fins of the tankmates or even the convict. Separate them if this occures because this is a sign of extreme aggressiveness while you are not there.
 
concicts are dank there just to aggrseive when they have a mate...my female picks on my terrors and they attack her just to seet he male is like you touch her i kill u
 
personally, I wouldn't put even a female convict in a 10 gallon for life. a 20 gallon maybe but a male I wouldn't put in anything less than a 29 for life. they could stay in a 10 for some time but I've had multiple males go from birth to 4" in a year's time while females from the same batch got up to 2.5-3" in that same year.

:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom