First Breeding Attempt: Early Disaster

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J

jlsmonkey

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 20, 2009
157
0
0
Michigan, USA
I set up a 10 gallon con breeder with one male and one female. The male would chase and nip the female but I read that it natural, but I kept an eye on them. I went upstairs to watch TV for a while and when I went downstairs again the female had been beaten up really bad. She had some missing side scales and fin injury. I removed the male and put him in the 125 and I am letting the female recover before getting her a new male. This is really crushing as it is my first try.

Any suggestions on what I can do to help her recover, or what should I change in the tank to make it a safer breeding grounds? The tank had two fake plants which admittedly didn't provide much cover, I removed the larger one to make room for something new and better.

Please any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
First off I would never use a 10 gallon to breed even a dwarf cichlid......let alone convicts.....and even though convicts are like rats (IMO) they dont always pair off right away.....To heal her up in the ten gallon 1st leave the lights off 2nd add some freshwater salt to the tank and give it a few days.....if she isnt looking better then use Melafix to help the process.....
 
Thanks, anyone else?
 
I breed convicts for feeders in a 29 gallon I bought at PetSmart. It didnt cost much, and already came with everything. I actually have the breeder tank set up next to a 10 gallon underneath my show tank. Keeps everything in one place.

As for the convict male beating up the female...Pairs arent made overnight. Its good to go to your lfs and watch a tank full of convicts for a while (10 minutes or better) to see which convicts are already running in pairs and buy them. That way you are setting yourself up a little better.
 
I know im gonna get slammed for this but ive had 3 sucessful spawns in the past month from 3 10g tanks each with pairs, but i do have them packed with plastic plants and 2 TC pots each with AC70s on each.
 
TStephens;3493883; said:
I know im gonna get slammed for this but ive had 3 sucessful spawns in the past month from 3 10g tanks each with pairs, but i do have them packed with plastic plants and 2 TC pots each with AC70s on each.
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Its do-able but not fair to the fish. :(
 
Their day is coming, im working on a divided indoor pond that will house 6 pairs of cons with each compartment around 25g each with a spraybar equally distributing and retreving water from each compartment. so their life of ease is coming, i didnt expect them to breed in the 10gs but they did. Its only a temp. home. I took them in from a freind to save them from going to petco.
 
I will look for a 29 gallon at one of the stores when I come across some money but the female is staying in the 10 for the time being. The male is staying in the 125 as well maybe breeding with the albino in there that I have trouble sexing.
 
I had trouble with aggression between the male and female. Dithers seemed to help the situation.
 
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