My new convict tank
- Thread starter Wulfonce
- Start date
my convicts breed like crazy! and both of my females have the red belly. I wasn't sure if it was only red when ready to breed, or if all the time.
I went to the fish store and returned the convict with the rounded dorsal fin. I spoke to a lady there that has owned convicts for 12 years and she loaded me down with alot of useful information. We talked for almost 20 minuets.
We went over to the tank where I bought them and she started saying that there probably all males. I pointed out 3 which had the orangey pinkish scales on the belly and asked if they were female. She told me that it doesn't necessarily mean its a female as a lot of convicts in general will have markings like that when their young that tend to fade away when they get older. She went on to say that the rounded dorsal fins that are supposedly only on females can be found on both male and female convicts. I asked if there was anyway to tell by their behavior and she said only when they first come in. She showed me how the whole row of tanks were sharing the same water and said they can pick up the scent from other fish and that tends to make them act aggressively towards each other whether their male or female. She pointed a male out in the corner of the tank that had all the gravel pushed out of the corner and told me that's definitely a male because hes making a nest. She summed up our conversation with your best bet is to call around and see if someone can guarantee you a female convict, otherwise it'll be hit or miss.
Anyway so I guess I have to call around now. My 90 isn't set up yet so I cant just buy a whole lot and see if any pair off. Oh well.
We went over to the tank where I bought them and she started saying that there probably all males. I pointed out 3 which had the orangey pinkish scales on the belly and asked if they were female. She told me that it doesn't necessarily mean its a female as a lot of convicts in general will have markings like that when their young that tend to fade away when they get older. She went on to say that the rounded dorsal fins that are supposedly only on females can be found on both male and female convicts. I asked if there was anyway to tell by their behavior and she said only when they first come in. She showed me how the whole row of tanks were sharing the same water and said they can pick up the scent from other fish and that tends to make them act aggressively towards each other whether their male or female. She pointed a male out in the corner of the tank that had all the gravel pushed out of the corner and told me that's definitely a male because hes making a nest. She summed up our conversation with your best bet is to call around and see if someone can guarantee you a female convict, otherwise it'll be hit or miss.
Anyway so I guess I have to call around now. My 90 isn't set up yet so I cant just buy a whole lot and see if any pair off. Oh well.
Wulfonce;3111021; said:I went to the fish store and returned the convict with the rounded dorsal fin. I spoke to a lady there that has owned convicts for 12 years and she loaded me down with alot of useful information. We talked for almost 20 minuets.
We went over to the tank where I bought them and she started saying that there probably all males. I pointed out 3 which had the orangey pinkish scales on the belly and asked if they were female. She told me that it doesn't necessarily mean its a female as a lot of convicts in general will have markings like that when their young that tend to fade away when they get older. She went on to say that the rounded dorsal fins that are supposedly only on females can be found on both male and female convicts. I asked if there was anyway to tell by their behavior and she said only when they first come in. She showed me how the whole row of tanks were sharing the same water and said they can pick up the scent from other fish and that tends to make them act aggressively towards each other whether their male or female. She pointed a male out in the corner of the tank that had all the gravel pushed out of the corner and told me that's definitely a male because hes making a nest. She summed up our conversation with your best bet is to call around and see if someone can guarantee you a female convict, otherwise it'll be hit or miss.
Anyway so I guess I have to call around now. My 90 isn't set up yet so I cant just buy a whole lot and see if any pair off. Oh well.
You should of got the ones with orange belly's. As for the color fading, Never happened to all my 100+ feeder females.
haynchinook334;3111044; said:
Your right, I should have. I'll go back tomorrow and buy one. I feel like an idiot now.
The biggest one I saw that had some orange on the belly was about 2" Would it get along with the 4-1/2" con I already have?
Sounds like this lady has no idea what she's talking about. The colors don't fade. at all. They only get brighter.
yep.... a little fighting but it'll work. just watch for aggression from the male.Wulfonce;3111092; said:Your right, I should have. I'll go back tomorrow and buy one. I feel like an idiot now.
The biggest one I saw that had some orange on the belly was about 2" Would it get along with the 4-1/2" con I already have?
