Convict eating fry?

Question

My convict pair gave birth to about 250-300 fry. After they hatched, both mom and dad fish were really protective of the young. There is only one other fish in my 40 gallon, an electric yellow about 1/2 inch long. After about two weeks when the fry can swim their own, i noticed they started to disappear. by the 5th day, none are left... do they eat their young? How can they be so protective one week and eat up their fry the next week? Seems like they're mating again because they're chasing each other. Is it morally wrong to let this pair mate only to have them eventually consume the offspring?

Answer 1

Convicts only eat their fry if they have reason to do so - genetic defects or inability to protect them. My guess is it's the yellow that's picking them off as they stray further from the parents, or that it's more aggressive than the parents, now that it's realized they were guarding FOOD if he's considerably larger than the convicts.

Even though both species are cichlids, these fish come from different environments. The electric yellow (from Africa) should be in water which contains some cichlid salt. These fish would never meet in nature, and probably should be kept in separate tanks.

Answer 2

The male should be removed after breeding(prevents scrapping)female cares best for brood.As they are predaceous,can not be trusted with smaller fish.
They do take extremly good care of their youngThey herd the fry into pre dug hollows in the sand/substrate when they are free swimming.Spawns are large but few expected to reach maturity,in their first week feed brine shrimp&infusoria.If kept well fed should not eat the fry but may eat fry which are not well/strong or defective.
Survival of the fittest is how the fish get here!
Just try again,although they dont come back into season that fast& at this time the female is the aggressor(protect brood)why it's good to remove him after&re condition,feed him to optimum health first(both/she to needs a break)

Answer 3

ya they do. your supposed to seperate the fry after there born. chilids are aggessive fish. they eat other live small fish if you give them it.

Answer 4

They do.