New to the cichlid show..

[LeJackal]

I have 4 Convict Cichlids...I'm assuming thier about 2 months old as i've had them for almost a month, and figure they were most likly 2 weeks + when they went up for sale...
Thier about 1.5" in length, 1 of them shows diffent signs of being a female 1 i am fair sure is a male....But i was wondering how old they ussally are when they get thier colorings, and if they female marks are there from start or fade in? and so forth.

 

[misstish]

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Cichlid,%20Convicts.htm
my friend showed me this site. it tells alot more then most that
I have found.

I have 20+ babies, waiting for them to get bigger so I can seperate
the males and females, for when I sale them. I don't need babies
all over my tank without me knowing. hahah Mine are only half an inch big or
smaller. I got bitty babies. haha

also females have a gold tint to their tummys, this will be come very vivid
when it comes to breeding. The females are generally smaller then all other
males, so thats another way to be able to tell. I do believe they fade in
because I have yet to see any color differences in mine, but then again,
I wont for a couple months.

 

[Gruff Master]

You can't always see the colors on females when they are very small. As they grow you will see the females belly turn orange to red in coloration. Males have extended fins as they mature too. Yours should start coloring up pretty soon if any are female. What size tank are they in? If you have a formed pair you will want to make sure that they have plenty of space to breed. With other convicts around their fry there will be aggression issues. One pair can do very well in a 20gal. Personally, I like bigger tanks so they can grow to full potential.

 

[LeJackal]

Currently i have 1 pair in 1 55gal and another pair in another 55gallon.
the one pair that i'm about 85% positive is a male/female pair is in a 55g with some Giant Zebra Danios, and some red claws.

the other pair is in a 55g with other semi-agressives both pairs have already set thier terrortory and in both tanks the other fish seem accepting of it...except in my semi-A tank the Bala sharks in there are older and have decided as the old men they can swim whole tank..and the CC's accept them in that...for now.. If it becomes an issue i do have a 3rd tank i can set them loose in..although it is my breeder/feeder tank

 

[Gruff Master]

A 55 is big enough for them. The only time you will usually see aggression out of a pair of Convicts is after they have laid eggs. They will try to control a big area for their fry to feed in safety. If any fish cross that boundary they will be attacked. Even big aggressive cichlids will often keep away from a diligent pair of Cons. But when they're small there's only so much they can actually do. That doesn't stop them from trying though.