What influences convict breeding?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Here is a very long awaited update...I kept up with Tongue's recommendations but then took a break from the hobby to spend some time in the Keys. When I came back I had about 100 wigglers there to welcome me home. I missed the nesting behavior (I was really looking forward to it), but I kept up with the pre-laying rituals. Really neat stuff when you know what to look for. For now I am happy to watch the babies school along the bottom with the parents taking turns guarding them (no one else is in the tank). The mother mouths the young for a cleaning and spits them out, though I could swear that she swallowed a few.

I have some fuzzy photos but the uploader is not working right now. I will try to post some clear ones later or atleast I will post the fuzzy ones.
 
figured it would eventually happen.

they will definitely swallow some of the young at times with no hesitation.
 
:clap Congrats CHOMPERS.....I like to seperate the fry from parents once free swimming....Odviuosly, this way more fry survive to feeder size....WIth the fry gone, too, the pair will get back to rabbit buisiness....2 spawns a month are common, and 3 spawns/month are possible(but stressful)...My spawns usually add up to 80-140....I find 55g tanks the perfect size for growing out(to feeder size)....
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A few questions, since the topic is related. I have 5 con's, there is one definate pair, who have layed eggs that have yet to yield any fry (just noticed the eggs last night as i saw them defending the corner of the tank).

1) How long is the average gestation period for a convict?
2) I want to put them in their own private tank so they can do their thing
a) The tank i found is a used 30G, is this a good size or to large?
b) If the said tank is set up in time, would it screw things up to move the parents and their eggs to the new tank before they hatch?


I have the cons in a 55g right now with a dempsy, rt , gt , bandail pike , payara and a pleco. I also have a flowerhorn but he had to be moved to solitary confinement cause he was always kickin azz, he's in a 10g. And now i found the 30g. So how should i do this?

Convict pair in the 30 and all else the same? or put the fh in the 30 and have the cons breed in the 10? sry for the long post but i like to give all the info and let everyone state their opinions. :popcorn:
 
Chris, I'd move everybody to the 30g for now and let the parents have the 55g. I know it sounds nuts but that will keep things normal for them. It makes sense to move the parents and eggs, but I wouldn't risk causing them to abandon their eggs. After several weeks after the fry hatch, then switch the fish to the opposite tanks. You might also want to start looking for a grow out tank for the fry, or just use the 30g. As mentioned earlier, the parents will probably breed shortly after the babies are removed. And from what I gather, the eggs will hatch in about four days.
 
Unfortunately thats not an option. I wont risk my payara. The 55 is already a tight fit for my liking, and i would not be happy if something happened. My payara is 10 inches, the dempsy is about 8, the gt and rt are about 2.5 inches.

I am already fortunate that the dempsy has taken a liking to the payara.... If the D decides the tank is to small and its time to make space, believe me he will wreck the payara, and id b very pissed.

I think i will risk the eggs and move them and the parents. Worst that happens is the eggs dont hatch, and they have to do their buissness over ( which wont take long).
 
Well the decision to move the breeding pair just got much easier, the eggs are gone, and i see no fry, though the pair still defeng their corner.

My best guess is either they were not able to fertilize the eggs cause they were layed upside down, on the underside of a piece of wood, or the eggs did 'hatch' and the fry were not yet swimmers and sank into the large gravel.

I have the 30g tank at home with gravel in it and will fill it tomorrow, using a very large portion of water from the 55g main tank. That way it should be a less stressful swap for the con's, and will be a large w/c for the 55g.
 
I have heard of fry surviving in the gravel for long periods. If you move the parents, the fry will become fish food but the parents will be back to breeding soon. Make the new tank resemble the old one as much as possible. If the parents feel at home they will get down to business sooner.
 
ChrisG23;626483; said:
Well the decision to move the breeding pair just got much easier, the eggs are gone, and i see no fry, though the pair still defeng their corner.

My best guess is either they were not able to fertilize the eggs cause they were layed upside down, on the underside of a piece of wood, or the eggs did 'hatch' and the fry were not yet swimmers and sank into the large gravel.

I have the 30g tank at home with gravel in it and will fill it tomorrow, using a very large portion of water from the 55g main tank. That way it should be a less stressful swap for the con's, and will be a large w/c for the 55g.
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lol dont be so sure abt those eggs. I BET they hatched and the parents moved them somewhere where they think is safer. now dont be surprise if ont day ull see a swarm of frys lol!
 
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