Badmans Tropical Fish Message Center: archive: What to do with unanticipated convict spawning?
Fishead
Sunday,
July 29, 2001 - 05:03 am
I have an 85 gallon tank in which I keep two Convict cichlids,
two Jewel cichlids, a Jack Dempsey, a Haplochromis (an
adopted fish that I'm very close to identifying),
and five Giant Danios. Its normal to find one of my plastic
plants floating every few days as these fish like to shuffle
gravel but tonight, when I went to replace the plant near
a rock formation the Convicts have staked out, I was attacked!
I finished placing the plant and then took a look at their
cave from under the tank......eggs everywhere. Any suggestions
on what to do when they hatch? I'd like to try and raise
the fry, pass them to friends and/or the local shop but
I have some pretty aggressive, carnivorous fish in the tank.
I have a second, 40 gallon tank, but I keep five Boesman's
Rainbows and a Geophagus (also adopted and as yet unidentified)
in it because all the fish in the 85 gallon tank beat up
on the Geophagus. Any advice on what to do when the Convict's
eggs hatch would be greatly appreciated.
Also, maybe someone might be able to help me ID the Geophagus.
Its (I'm going to call it "it" because how
can I say he or she when I don't even know the genus
or species) a year old and about five inches long. It
is a silver gray with blue/silver/green irridescent flecks
on its operculum, sides, dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.
It has a large black spot midway down the lateral line and
vertical black bands running down from the eyes. The pectoral
fins are absent of color but the pelvic fins have brilliant
blue stripes similar to a male Jack Dempsey. Its general
body form is similar to a Firemouth (highly sloped forehead).
Its tempermant is peaceful as it doesn't harass the
Rainbows. Its a beautiful fish but all the pictures of common
Geophagus don't match....hybrid? Again, I greatly appreciate
any input.
joycedonley
Sunday,
July 29, 2001 - 06:07 pm
I think I read that convict fry are pretty easy to raise.
I will try and check my mags unless Kick pops in and knows.
If they are big enough you can probably feed them finely
crushed flake. It's possible your dempsey may eat some
of them if given an opportunity. I think convicts make pretty
good parents, so they may protect them somewhat. If you
move the fry to the tank with your rainbows without the
parents to protect they stand a better chance of being eaten.
Fish fry are a favorite of almost all fish that can fit
them into their mouths even peaceful ones.
joycedonley
Sunday,
July 29, 2001 - 06:38 pm
Matt Aquarium fish mag for September has a great convict
article. Your fish will guard those fry for about seven
weeks. They will mob and try to exterminate any other fish
that even gets near them. If the fry do stray of course
they will be eaten by other fish.The article did say they
are very prolific and will keep breeding...so you better
look for something to do with subsequent fry. The main problem
you may have is feeding the fry in the community tank. The
other fish may get to the food first. If they are too small
to eat the finely crushed flake you may have to go with
hatching brine shrimp.
joycedonley
Sunday,
July 29, 2001 - 07:08 pm
Matt following is a link from someone breeding convicts. I think
your tank may turn into a war zone.
Sunday,
July 29, 2001 - 07:29 pm
I agree with Joyce, and thanks for saving me some typing. She
is right when she says that your tank is going to turn into a
war zone unless you find something to do with either the fry and
parents or the other fish in your tank. Whether you plan to raise
the fry or not, by leaving them together, you are going to see
much fighting going on.....the parents trying to protect the fry
and/or the others fighting to get to the new food source. I don't
have any great answers for you on who exactly to move because
I am sure you won't have adequate housing no matter which
way you go unless you are ready to invest in an additional tank
so the convict parents and fry can be left by themselves. Sorry
I don't sound too optomistic, but that would be the best arrangement
for rearing the fry.
peter
Monday,
July 30, 2001 - 03:42 pm
I have several Geo's and the only one that comes close to
your description is the GEophagus Brasilensis, because of teh
stripes and the black spot that you mentioned. My local Geo expert
that turned me on to these fish told me that tehy change colors
often and throughout their lives, so I am not sure since mine
are a greenish color as opposed to your silver grey (mine
are only 6 months old, though.) They are also known as "pearl
cichlids", which would lead me to believe that your color
description makes sense.
However, still a total guess.
Fishead
Thursday,
August 02, 2001 - 10:51 pm
Thanks all for the input. As soon as I get my computer back I'll
check the sites etc.........its been one of those weeks,the day
after I posted my hardrive crashed. Actually, the eggs hatched
and the fry(larva) seem to have gotten lost in the gravel.
The parents have been less aggressive in defending the area so
I'm thinking they gave up, I dont know. Since they are obviously
going to probably continue to attempt a family, they are most
likely destined for their own tank. Again, thanks.
Fishead
