convicts for feeders-growth rate

[hybridtheoryd16]

I know there is hundreds of threads on breeding cons but I have not read how fast there growth rate is. And how long can they stay with the parents. Or at what size do they need to be removed. Also is there any danger in using convicts for feeders alone-thanks alot

 

[Sanjo Eel]

I am wondering the same things. I want to breed cons for feeders for my natts.

 

[Trucker84]

I am starting the same project as well

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Well after talking to a few members thru pm on here it sounds like it takes 2 months for the fry to reach 1-1.5 inches and around 1 year for them to reach 3-4 inches. I was also told that if you power feed them several times a day like 6-10 then they will grow to 2 inches faster. But when they hit 2'' they slow down no matter what. Also I was told to leave them with the parents unitl the parents lay eggs again. And the larger the grow out the better. So i am going to set-up 2 10's or 20's for parents and a larger tank for a grow out. An I figure it will take 6 months before I have a useful amount of feeders for my payara and hujeta school. What are your plans.

 

[chrisdef15]

Just use guppies or swords. Convicts are too smart for feeders. Unless you have an empty tank they will just quickly find somewhere to hide on the bottom.
Im not saying they wont catch some but if there a few decent hiding spots they probably wont catch them all.

 

[jaguartooth]

Tried feeding a handfull of 0.5-1 inch convicts, which I bred, to my cichlids. They tried like madd to catch them the first day... eventually most were eaten, but 5 survived. They are now between 2-3.5 inches and swim around like they're "supposed" to be there. I don't really mind... damn resourceful fish.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I take it you guys have not owned a payara species. they will not even eat a 1'' fish they just kill them and let them fall to the bottom. A full grown convict at 4'' would be right up there alley in a few months. And a 2''-2.5'' is fantastic right now. I have 2 red tails. My freind has some con fry which he gave me 20 2''ers of. i put them in the tank and went to the grocery and came back and they were gone. The Tats looked as if they might explode. So thats why I needed to set up a feeder tank and now a breeding tank. I have done guppies for years and they are not worth the trouble, trying to catch all of them before they get eaten. Or catching a pregnant female and sticking it in a net to have birth. i am done with that. I want a quick breeding fish that takes care of the fry. And I think a con is perfect for that. Or is there something better to breed, that will breed faster with more offspring and not eat the fry.

 

[Tongue33]

You will need a few growout tanks in my opinion.. And to properly feed the fish you state you have with cons.... My opinion is you will need around 3 pairs to start and four to 6 growout tanks to handle the load. Just my opinion

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I have 2 20's for breeding and a 55 and a 30 for growouts. I have more like another 55 and another 20 not being used but that was the plan. Think that will work or what?---------thanks-----------------i usually keep about 100-150 comets in the 55 now so lets say 150 con 1-2'' fry in the 55 and about the same number of under 1''ers in the 30l. I know it sounds crazy and all but remember these are for feeders only not pets so if some die its not a big deal.

 

[Tongue33]

In my opinion that will work for now/ still will be some work too.Food for rasing isn't cheap either but can be .. Are you feedign them soley feeders? If so when those monster get larger.. Your Breeding operation must grow to support such..

I would get in contact with local breeders of any cichlids.... And see if they are willing to donate their cull stock of any size Works for me. I have regular income of medium to larger feeders this way.