Neo's - Contest Thread (Convict's)

[Neo922]

I had picked up 4 convicts at my LFS about couple weeks ago (I honestly just stopped by only to take a look at the plants section). I have in them in a 10 gallon and couple days ago it looked like there was a pair formed. Later I saw them digging and moving sand particles with their mouth at one corner of the aquarium. And yesterday night there was these really tiny fry and today the contest thread opened up , So i think it will be interesting for me and hopefully others to see how these fry develop (Will try to post pictures frequently)
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And in the time i was taking the pics to upload they moved the fry from under one rock to another (Not sure why)

[brewmaster15]

I've always liked Convicts. They are incredibly prolific though, every time I have had them I have been over run with them in no time. But I still keep them from time to time as they are entertaining to watch and don't take up alot of room.

Looking forward to watching these fry grow. Good Luck!

al

[Neo922]

I have only had the livebearers(guppies, Platies) breed before. so this a first for me🙂...

[LizStreithorst]

I've never owned these. Following their progress will be very interesting

[Swedgin]

Always nice to see fry, whichever species. Good luck

[Second Hand Pat]

Nice Neo, what will you be feeding them? I think they move the fry as a form of protecting them from other fish.
Pat

[Neo922]

Always nice to see fry, whichever species. Good luck

Thanks :)

[Neo922]

Nice Neo, what will you be feeding them? I think they move the fry as a form of protecting them from other fish.
Pat

yep, moving it for protection makes sense. I am planning to feed them the crushed Omega one cichlid flakes that i have giving the parents and if they don't feed on the crushed flakes then frozen baby brine shrimp.

[Neo922]

The Fry have been moved between a rock and the filter , so not able to take a look at them. Hopefully they will be moved again be visible by the time i get home today evening.

[Second Hand Pat]

yep, moving it for protection makes sense. I am planning to feed them the crushed Omega one cichlid flakes that i have giving the parents and if they don't feed on the crushed flakes then frozen baby brine shrimp.

Use a small syringe with about six inches of airline tubing to suck up a small amount of BBS. Then suck up some water with the syringe to add with the BBS. Mix the BBS and water in the syringe then squirt a tiny amount into the water column above the fry. It will take a couple times for the fry to realize it is food. Live BBS work really well for fry. :)
Pat

[Pices]

It’ll be fun watching these little ones grow over the next couple months. Cichlids are good parents from my experience.

[Neo922]

Use a small syringe with about six inches of airline tubing to suck up a small amount of BBS. Then suck up some water with the syringe to add with the BBS. Mix the BBS and water in the syringe then squirt a tiny amount into the water column above the fry. It will take a couple times for the fry to realize it is food. Live BBS work really well for fry. :)
Pat

Sure Pat. Will use this method to feed the fry. Good thing you mentioned this, As the guppy fry i have had before will mostly be at the top between the floating hornwort plants and swarm on the flakes as soon i put it.

(Not Sure if i can get away with setting up a BBS hatchery at home as of now :) )
Neo

[Neo922]

Today evening ,It was a nice surprise to see the fry not only visible but also swimming a little .Though the mother (I think) is still moving them from one place to other by her mouth.

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Neo

[Gabriel13]

This thread is so refreshing. I just love convicts! They are actually my favorite cichlid. And also my first. Nothing beats them for antics and character. Love them....

[Neo922]

This thread is so refreshing. I just love convicts! They are actually my favorite cichlid. And also my first. Nothing beats them for antics and character. Love them....

Glad you like the thread.. This is the first time i have kept them, Its been interesting to observe them. Especially the way they constantly take care of the fry.

[Neo922]

The Fry have gone from being very passive and slow moving to being comparatively more active and are also swimming a few inches higher of the floor.i think there are approximately around 25 young ones...

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[danotaylor]

I'm enjoying this thread as well...convicts were the first cichlids I successfully spawned and reared in 1982...the female is the one with the coppery patch on her flanks...this patch gets more prominent during spawning and she will move the fry to wherever she feels it is safest for them...thanks for sharing Neo!

[Second Hand Pat]

Those fry are growing nicely Neo :)
Pat

[Gabriel13]

Convicts are awesome parents. To me they make for a great show in the tank when they breed. Still gets me after 20 years.

[Neo922]

Those fry are growing nicely Neo :)
Pat

Yes Pat :) ... Its interesting to watch them just swarm around from one place to another.

[Neo922]

Convicts are awesome parents. To me they make for a great show in the tank when they breed. Still gets me after 20 years.

Yep, These days its become a routine after dinner to just sit and watch them. The mother moves the bottom sand occasionally with her body trying to kick up a cloud of dirt and the fry swim around in it, I think it might be one of the mechanisms for them to feed to fry in the wild.

[Neo922]

Also the Female chases the male constantly before returning to the fry.. Not sure if all females convicts chase the male away from the fry..

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[Pices]

I like the way you take pictures from a distance and move to close ups of the fry. These babies are so cute.

[Neo922]

:) . The Babies are growing quickly . Will try to post some pics later today evening. (Was travelling the past few days , couldn't do any posts)

[Pices]

I bet they’ve grown. I’ll check later.
Patty

[Pices]

Any new pics Neo?