2007-07-04 04:33:43 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Your convicts are going to nibble your mbunas into wishing they had their own tank.
2007-07-04 04:38:24 · answer #1 · answered by ibbibud 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What size tank do you have? How many mbuna and how many convicts? What kind of mbuna?
Well either way I still would not reccomend keeping these fish together as mbuna are Africans from lake Malawi and convicts are South American:
For one thing mbuna require a higher ph at around 8.2 and convicts are better with around 6.6 - 7.8, however that is not the only reason.
Also the differences in their origins can lead to certain communication breakdowns as these fish each speak different languages, so to speak, and they therefore have trouble understanding and adapting to eachother.
Yet another reason I advise against keeping these guys together is that the convicts can be terribly territorial, especially while breeding and some mbuna can be pretty aggressive as well.
If it is possible I would seperate the groups, especially since they are breeding and if you do that you will probably find that they are much better off that way in regards to their temperaments and behavior.
Good luck with the fry!
2007-07-05 15:12:42 · answer #2 · answered by Ash 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not to say that it can't work, but it's not a good idea. Convicts have, besides diet and environmental differences, very different behaviour patterns and like to stake out a territory and keep it clear of other fish. Either they'll be under constant stress trying to keep mbuna away, or the mbuna will be under constant stress being forced into the corner of the tank by the Convicts, or they'll just fight to the death. Those with any interest in keeping the fish properly won't mix them.
2007-07-04 06:03:55 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't recommend this. Both convicts and virtually all mbuna are very, very territorial especially during breeding. Unless you have a large tank with lots of hidings spaces you are going to end up with some very beat up fish.
2007-07-04 07:43:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it can be done, you are doing it. Is it OK? That question is more difficult to answer due to the ethics involved. You didn't say what size tank you have, but most likely it is too small to mix the two. You should trade one or the other back to the store where they were purchased and get all of the same type. Of course if you stay with the convicts, you will most likely be begging the local store to take the babies from you for free, just to get rid of them all. Otherwise you will have hundreds of fish in a year or so. Also, if you keep the convicts, don't add any new fish to their tank or they will be dead the next day.
2007-07-04 07:36:34 · answer #5 · answered by fivespeed302 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mbuna covers amultitude of species, the answer to your question depends on tank size and shape and the specific specie that's in the tank. Since the convicts will spawn in a mud puddle in a pig sty it's sort of up to the Rockfish to set the ground rules.
2007-07-04 05:08:16 · answer #6 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming the tank is large enough for both species to have their own territory it should be fine.... for now. Eventually the convicts will have far more offspring than the mbunas and dominate the tank to the point the mbunas will be overly restricted. As long as you remove convicts constantly it should be ok for a while.
MM
2007-07-04 04:52:34 · answer #7 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
convicts are3 physco when spawning not a good idea
2007-07-04 11:33:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes
2007-07-04 04:38:06 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋