My convict cichlid pair have bred and they are in a 180l tank with 4 male firemouths, a male jack dempsey and 2 other female convict cichlids. How can I help the fry to survive? I am planning on getting more tanks soon. I've never bred egglayers before. I finally figured out where to get female cichlids and can now start breeding.
My convict cichlid eggs have hatched. Seeking advice
- Thread starter BO17
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You have enough fish to stock a tank three times the size of your current tank. You’re going to see problems ranging from aggression to water quality. I’d start with a 6ft tank.
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I agree the tank is overstocked, and the first solution is a much larger tank.
That said, convicts are some of the best parents in the fish world. They will defend the nest from just about anything. The easiest method for fry survival, and the best imo, is to just let the parents take care of their spawn.
Now, in so small a tank it can get tricky since there isn’t much space to go around. The cons will either eat the fry because they feel it is unsafe, or they will start making space by removing the competition. To calm aggression and ensure fry survival, you can pull the eggs/fry and raise them yourself, but that can be a bit trickier (I have no experience there).
That said, convicts are some of the best parents in the fish world. They will defend the nest from just about anything. The easiest method for fry survival, and the best imo, is to just let the parents take care of their spawn.
Now, in so small a tank it can get tricky since there isn’t much space to go around. The cons will either eat the fry because they feel it is unsafe, or they will start making space by removing the competition. To calm aggression and ensure fry survival, you can pull the eggs/fry and raise them yourself, but that can be a bit trickier (I have no experience there).
First, is recommend a bigger tank. A full grown male jack dempsey can reach 10-12 inches and 4 firemouths are looking for trouble as they will harass one another. Tank is too small to house all those fish together especially now that you have cons breeding.
I was trying to grow out a few cons in a 75 gallon tank and ended up with a pair. The pair chased and damaged the other cons and I had to remove them to another tank for peace.
I now have hundreds of free swimming fry.
To house multiple firemouths, id recommend a 6ft tank.
I was trying to grow out a few cons in a 75 gallon tank and ended up with a pair. The pair chased and damaged the other cons and I had to remove them to another tank for peace.
I now have hundreds of free swimming fry.
To house multiple firemouths, id recommend a 6ft tank.
I'm looking into getting more tanks when they grow. My firemouths are 2 inches and the jack dempsey is around 4 inches. The male convict is 5 inches and the female he spawned with is about 3 inches
2 firemouths will pick and bully each other for dominance and one may even get killed from it. If that convict male and female decide to spawn they will chase the others off aggressively and be prepared to see ripped and torn fins. Jack dempsey will either not be able to keep up against the slightly larger male convict when breeding occurs.
Just be prepared is all I can say. Good luck.
Just be prepared is all I can say. Good luck.