I have five convict cichlids all about 2.5 to 3 inches. I've had them about a month and I believe they've worked out the pecking order since I rarely see any nipping or serious aggression. In fact after about two weeks, there almost as peaceful as community fish instead of the little devils all my sources have stressed. I've seen no eggs, babies, or even breeding behavior as i've studied as of yet, but my two biggest ones both have bloated bellies. At first I thought they were being overfed but I feed twice a day and each time the food is gobbled up within seconds and I'm not even sure they're getting enough sometimes. Could it be I've got egg stuffed females an no males or what? I've waited for them to reach a decent size hoping i'd get at least one sexually mature pair our of the five, but I still believe i have a tank of females since none exhibit male behavior. Should I get a definite male and see wht happens? What do you think?
2007-10-02 16:50:12 · 4 answers · asked by enygma4113 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
At the size of yours, you should be able to identify males and females easily. Males will be a bluish/purplish gray with long thin extensions on the dorsal and anal fins (the ones on the top and bottom). Females will have more rounded tips on these fins, but the reall point to tell them apart is that the females will have a pink/orange tint to their abdomen. See these photos: female: http://aquaticpredators.com/forums/uploads/post-20-1096246698.jpg male: http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/convict.jpg You'll be able to tell if they have eggs or fry, because two will be on one side of the tank, and the other three will be cowering in the opposite corner, unless you have a VERY large tank. Convicts are protective of their eggs and fry.
BTW, yours are sexually mature already. I've had them spawn as small as 1 1/2 inches.
2007-10-02 17:16:20 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HI Cichlids are great! It sounds like you may have females that are ready to spawn. I'm not sure because I can't see your fish. but I would go ahead an get the male and have your brood! Once you get that male you'll know when they are ready to spawn together because the will dig a nest in the rocks in the corner of the tank and their colors will be incredible mating colors. Cichlids make great parents, and it's fun to watch. Good Luck
2007-10-02 23:59:47 · answer #2 · answered by Lynn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What it sounds like to me is that either one of the fish is male or they have a bloating disease. My fish get it sometimes and usually they do just fine and it goes away but if it is still doing it after about 2 weeks you may want to check into getting some medicine for them or moving them to another tank Just in case they're pregnant.
2007-10-02 23:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by kenny c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they could be females getting ready to lay eggs. but you are unlikly to see the eggs because the other will eat them, or the parents will eat them as a defense mechanism. at least that what my Jack dempsys did until the pair went into their own tank . Or you could have two that are eating all the extra food out of the gravel and getingfat. we also have a catfish that ate rocks and died, but convicts can't eat rocks im sure
2007-10-03 00:35:56 · answer #4 · answered by collegegrllstress 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋