Firemouth Cichlid w/ Breeding Pair Black Convict Cichlids?

[catfishlover106]

Wow! I didnt know they both are found in the same area. Well as of right now I got a male & female black convict. Male's at a good 1.75" almost 2" & the female is about 1.25-1.50". Both we're pale & yellow at the LFS but the distinct feature on the belly for a female showed in all of the 13 other convicts in the tank. Yet I found only 1 without the orange/red coloration on the belly of this one so Im assuming its a male. As Ive been watching them explore the tank the past 4 hours they have never left eachother's side. Btw at what size can convicts even start producing?
PS: I've tried taking a few shots with my phone earlier but its so hard having them to stay at one spot & close to the front of the tank for a clear shot, so i'll try again later when they've settled down

 

[Community Disorganizer]

Well a little over a year ago, I had a breeding pair of convicts housed with a firemouth in a 20 gallon tank. That firemouth was a terror, during the day my con pair forced him to eat the glass, but when I turned the lights out, the firemouth had pretty much free reign and constantly challenged my male convict.

Granted the firemouth was slightly larger then my male con, and a fish's personality varies; different strokes for different folks.

 

[catfishlover106]

So given that the male & female cons I have in my 55gal are alone, how long till they could possibly start breeding? How will I know if they both will be getting ready to breed? Ive had cons before and breed out of nowhere & had lil fry's which I never even noticed was in the tank till I looked closely. I just checked on them downstairs & all ive seen was the female swimming all over the place with the male close by and following, sometimes a slight flare of his gils when next to her then back to swimming around together. Im sure its normal but I just want to know the signs I should be looking for when having them breed

 

[Community Disorganizer]

So given that the male & female cons I have in my 55gal are alone, how long till they could possibly start breeding? How will I know if they both will be getting ready to breed? Ive had cons before and breed out of nowhere & had lil fry's which I never even noticed was in the tank till I looked closely. I just checked on them downstairs & all ive seen was the female swimming all over the place with the male close by and following, sometimes a slight flare of his gils when next to her then back to swimming around together. Im sure its normal but I just want to know the signs I should be looking for when having them breed

Well when they're pairing you'll know it. From what it sounds, you're male is trying to court the female. Watch out for constant gill flaring, tail slapping, and you're male's aggression will be kicked up a notch. Cons aren't picky, and I would expect eggs soon.

 

[catfishlover106]

ahhhh great! haha Will she lay eggs when the lights are out or both when the lights on & off?

 

[catfishlover106]

Here are some shots of the two just now when I TRIED to get them on camera. Female is getting more darker & colorful as to the male is still abit pale but colors on its finage are coming out real nicely
Sorry about the low-cloudy quality. Its from my phone haha.

 

[catfishlover106]

Just an update on the cons after their first night in the tank. Male is showing abit more aggression than before. Just abit more gills flaring & now tailfin swaying. Female flares back at him sometimes. Also the male likes to go into one of the caves alot with the female coming in and out frequently & the male follows her around alot still with the female doing the same still to him. Both are feeding well on mini sinking cichlid pellets at the moment. Does anyone know whether its just him being territorial & guarding his cave? Or did something go down between the female & male?

 

[Community Disorganizer]

Just an update on the cons after their first night in the tank. Male is showing abit more aggression than before. Just abit more gills flaring & now tailfin swaying. Female flares back at him sometimes. Also the male likes to go into one of the caves alot with the female coming in and out frequently & the male follows her around alot still with the female doing the same still to him. Both are feeding well on mini sinking cichlid pellets at the moment. Does anyone know whether its just him being territorial & guarding his cave? Or did something go down between the female & male?

They are a pair. If they weren't, one of them would be constantly trying to hide, most lilkely behind the filter. How many caves do you have in with them? It sounds as if your female is searching for a spot to lay eggs in. And it doesn't matter if the lights are on or off. If your wife is going to give birth soon, does it matter if it's light or dark?

Look for her belly to swell up and eventually, her egg tube to stick out from her undercarriage. Then you know eggs are on the way!

 

[catfishlover106]

I have 3 different caves, one on each sides of the tank and one in the middle. As for the lights hahaha thats very true! I'll keep an eye on her belly. How many eggs or fry's do you think would emerge from a small 1"-1.25" female like herself? 0_0

 

[Community Disorganizer]

Not that many, and don't expect all the fry to survive If it's their first time. My con pair got it right from the beginning, but that is the exception and not the rule; sometimes it takes a few tries to get parenting right.