I saw a really cool looking covict cichlid at the lfs and i wanted to get him and set up a tank for him and maybe down the road get another one for breeding can anyone explain what i would need for him, tank size, decor, water ph and nitrate level, water temperature, tankmates?
Covict tank setup?
- Thread starter franchise513
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well if u got a filter on the side of the tank try to feed them with flakes in the flow of the filter. u just need a tank with a couple caves. they dont need anything as far as decor plants and that stuff. i never really looked at ph and nitrate. my tempature normally stays round 75-85 and sometimes lower than 75. in my 55 gallon i have a pictus, 2 fruit tetras, 2 black tetras and some mosquitofish. theyve never bothered each other. oh and just to let u no 1ce they breed 1 time and the babies grow up theyll never stop breedin i got 4 breedin pairs in my tank so its sorta overdone i sorta regret gettin em
You can breed them in a 20 long if you don't want any other tankmates. They are versatile and breed in a wide array of pH levels, to be safe aim for between 7.0-8.2. Temp 76-83, on the higher end when breeding is desired. Nitrates, when, just keep them to the lowest level possible, and you certainly don't want measureable nitrites.
I wouldn't breed them with other tankmates in anything smaller than a 55. Jack Dempseys, Jewel Cichlids, Nics, Firemouths and Salvinis are all common cichlids that have been house with convicts with varying degrees of success. They all grow larger than Convicts, but jewels are closet in size. Jewels and Salvinis are just about as fiece as convicts, give or take some degree of fierceness level (lol, don't know how to explain that better), Dempseys are a little more mellow (individual basis) but they can fight fairly well, Nics are middle of the road, they can be fairly tough. They grow almost as big as Dempseys. Firemouths also get a couple of inches on convicts, but they are outclassed in fighting by many cichlids. Firemouths can be bullies if the other fish let them get the upper hand. If you have a small aquarium and put in a Firemouth with an established convict, the convict may beat the firemouth to death even if the FM is larger. If you have something bigger than a 55 your choice of commonly availeable tankmates will also increase. Good luck.
I wouldn't breed them with other tankmates in anything smaller than a 55. Jack Dempseys, Jewel Cichlids, Nics, Firemouths and Salvinis are all common cichlids that have been house with convicts with varying degrees of success. They all grow larger than Convicts, but jewels are closet in size. Jewels and Salvinis are just about as fiece as convicts, give or take some degree of fierceness level (lol, don't know how to explain that better), Dempseys are a little more mellow (individual basis) but they can fight fairly well, Nics are middle of the road, they can be fairly tough. They grow almost as big as Dempseys. Firemouths also get a couple of inches on convicts, but they are outclassed in fighting by many cichlids. Firemouths can be bullies if the other fish let them get the upper hand. If you have a small aquarium and put in a Firemouth with an established convict, the convict may beat the firemouth to death even if the FM is larger. If you have something bigger than a 55 your choice of commonly availeable tankmates will also increase. Good luck.
convicts are without a doubt one of the most undemanding cichlids.
a 20-30g tank for a single pair, 25% water change every week or two, a few .99cent small ceramic flower pots/dishes, temp mid-upper 70's, and either sand or gravel with a decent filter.
dont get much more basic than that. anything else you do for them decoration or plant wise, is nothing more than a luxury for them and an eye catcher for you.
now go breed some cons and enjoy it. they get it on more often than drunken frat kids, so be prepared
a 20-30g tank for a single pair, 25% water change every week or two, a few .99cent small ceramic flower pots/dishes, temp mid-upper 70's, and either sand or gravel with a decent filter.
dont get much more basic than that. anything else you do for them decoration or plant wise, is nothing more than a luxury for them and an eye catcher for you.
now go breed some cons and enjoy it. they get it on more often than drunken frat kids, so be prepared
convict cichlids of the same age usually have the males being larger and having longer, pointier, more flowing dorsal fins. The dorsal fins in some females can be somewhat pointy and flowing in my experience, but are uaually more rounded off than the males, especially when younger fish are compared. Females often show more orange coloration in the belly area.
just look for one that has an orange stomach and one that doesnt. breeding is to easy and unless you have something to do with the fry you will be overwhelmed in no time.
