I've had two male convicts for awhile now (one is three inches the other is about 6/6.5) and bought a female about a week ago. I didn't expect them to spawn since she is only an inch long but they did. Her and the big guy. I watched them clean the stump and knew what was coming, shortly after she laid her eggs and he fertilized them. Does anyone have any advice? They are in a community tank right now and I was thinking about putting the fry into there own 20 gallon until they are about an inch. I'm sorry I have no pics, I broke my camera a little while back. Also can I feed them flake food if I grind it up small enough?
My convict layed eggs. She's an inch long.
- Thread starter Younglin
- Start date
I'd probably recommend moving them to their own tank. The fry aren't likely to have a high survivability chance in a community tank, and the parents (especially the big dad) may end up hurting or killing some of your other fish trying to protect the fry. I'd move at least 1 of the parents with the eggs. With the drastically different sizes, not sure I'd move both. The male could very easily kill the female if he perceives her to be a threat in any way. It is also possible that they will eat the eggs. Cons sometimes do that on their 1st or 2nd spawn. You could also wait until they hatch to move them, but I wouldn't wait too long after that.
When they hatch (3-6 days) they will be wigglers. Don't feed during this time, wait until they are free swimming (another 3-5 days). Crushed flake should be ok. Best way I found to do it was take a zip-lock bag and put a tablespoon of flake into it down in a corner, then just roll the bag between your fingers for a while to crush it into powder. Careful not to overfeed, it only takes a small pinch 3 or 4 times a day. If you can, mix it with a little water in a small container then use a syringe or pipette to squirt the food directly around the fry. If you don't have those, you can just release the pinch of food into the water next to the fry. Don't sprinkle it on top of the water as they won't find most of it. Expect to get bit a few times while you do this by the parent(s).
When they hatch (3-6 days) they will be wigglers. Don't feed during this time, wait until they are free swimming (another 3-5 days). Crushed flake should be ok. Best way I found to do it was take a zip-lock bag and put a tablespoon of flake into it down in a corner, then just roll the bag between your fingers for a while to crush it into powder. Careful not to overfeed, it only takes a small pinch 3 or 4 times a day. If you can, mix it with a little water in a small container then use a syringe or pipette to squirt the food directly around the fry. If you don't have those, you can just release the pinch of food into the water next to the fry. Don't sprinkle it on top of the water as they won't find most of it. Expect to get bit a few times while you do this by the parent(s).
An alternative to flake is Hikari First Bites if you have a few dollars to spare. Usually around $3(US) for a package at a LFS. 1 package is enough for 2 or 3 spawns of fry to get them big enough to eat regular flake. That's what I use for the first week or so then I switch to the powdered flake. Not sure it's needed, but it worked for me so far.
Congrats btw.
Congrats btw.
Unfortunately I have no money right now so its flake food or brine shrimp. I'm amazed she spawned at such a small size. It's my first time breeding fish but everything I read said convicts won't spawn until around 3 inches. It's only about 25 eggs from what I see but I don't expect such a little female to lay 200 eggs like I've seen with other con's.
My female was about 2" when she laid the 200+ of her first batch. She's around 2.5" now and her 2nd batch just hatched which has probably 250 or 300 fry. Interesting to know they will spawn at 1" though.
That behaviour is probably going to get worse if he's starting already. Keep an eye on it but be ready to separate them if it gets bad. It would only take one solid nip for him to kill her.