Convicts Changing Sex??

[TwoHedWlf]

Update for anyone reading - I've removed the 2 convicts. What an absolute disaster. The two females both laid eggs and yet acted as mated pairs still. They turned the tables on the JD, kept attacking the platys fins and I suspect took a chunk out of a oto. Everyone now has ich - which I suspect is from stress.

My advice to anyone, avoid convicts unless in a species only tank. They are more mean than you can imagine!!

Or just have a single convict. Been a while since I've had any, but my experience was as long as they're alone they're pretty placid, fine in a community tank even.

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Or just have a single convict. Been a while since I've had any, but my experience was as long as they're alone they're pretty placid, fine in a community tank even.

I don't think I'll be testing your theory out - they were just an absolute nightmare. By far the most aggressive thing I've owned to date. I think this would have been the same even with just the 1 female. But like any cichlids, I'm sure there are different characters. Perhaps I got some wired ones!!

 

[ryansmith83]

Convicts are fiercely protective when spawning. Even a single female can be that way if she decides to lay eggs. I keep single cons in large tanks with big South American cichlids and I don’t have any issues, but there are no Central American males for them to breed with and they have plenty of space.

The problem is that even small to medium CA cichlids can take over a 6’ tank. EBJD are a heavily inbred fish and most I’ve seen have the natural instinct and feistiness of normal JD bred right out of them, sort of like purebred dogs. They might be nice to look at but behaviorally they’re a mixed bag. That allows something feisty and bold like a convict to take over.

Your best bet would probably be to find some non-cichlid tankmates for the JD, or look for something more passive like rainbow cichlids or maybe one of the small, hardy SA species that would hold its own without being aggressive.

 

[Bluesandtwo]

Convicts are fiercely protective when spawning. Even a single female can be that way if she decides to lay eggs. I keep single cons in large tanks with big South American cichlids and I don’t have any issues, but there are no Central American males for them to breed with and they have plenty of space.

The problem is that even small to medium CA cichlids can take over a 6’ tank. EBJD are a heavily inbred fish and most I’ve seen have the natural instinct and feistiness of normal JD bred right out of them, sort of like purebred dogs. They might be nice to look at but behaviorally they’re a mixed bag. That allows something feisty and bold like a convict to take over.

Your best bet would probably be to find some non-cichlid tankmates for the JD, or look for something more passive like rainbow cichlids or maybe one of the small, hardy SA species that would hold its own without being aggressive.

I'm now pretty set on just keeping the EBJD as the centre piece and take a chance with a tank full of large fat platys as tank mates. My JD is like a wetpet and pretty enough that I think he can pull off being the only main fish in the tank without me getting bored