It is an incredibly hardy fish, which is easy to care for, making it ideal for beginner fish keepers. Interestingly all Convict Cichlids are monomorphic so you’ll need to wait until they are sexually matured to tell the difference between males and females (more on this later). Males will … Do I relocate mom to small tank she looks weak, Hi Rain, yes I would definitely remove her to a separate tank if she is being picked on. If you can’t find the fresh variety, then the frozen ones will suffice. There is many hiding places, rock caves, clay pots, wood, multiple plants ect. They will usually lay their eggs on a flat rock near or inside the cave and use the cave to help protect their fry once they are born. If you’re a beginner then we would recommend you keep Cichlids in their own tank with no other species. In addition to rivers they will be found in streams. stripes. I now have 17 in a 20 Gallon, and 18 in a 25 Gallon. Size:  Male 6 inches (15cm), female 4 inches (10cm). Telling the difference between a male and female Convict is very straight forward. web browser that While male and female Jack Dempseys look similar as juveniles and adults, they are … Once the eggs hatch (usually within 3-5 days) Convict Cichlids usually make great parents. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. She continues to care for them for a further week or so after they leave her mouth. On the contrary, many Tanganyikan cichlids such as the Julidochromis will have a larger female. It’s during this stage you will notice what great parents they make as they will find them food and shelter and keep any other fish away from them. Leaving lots of swimming room and sand substrate. For example, female convict cichlids have orange on the belly, particularly when they are in breeding mode. Size: Male 6 inches (15cm), female 4 inches (10cm) Temperament: Aggressive; Care Level: Easy; Diet: Omnivore These cichlids are some of the most aggressive and territorial of all cichlid species so they generally need to be kept alone or in large tanks. After a successful mating, the female will lay up to 300 eggs and will immediately begin to guard them. They reach sexual maturity at around 7 months old so they will be ready to breed then. Black Convict Cichlids get their name from their appearance of white and black stripes. These tanks are also [Continue reading …], If you’re at the stage where you’re ready to set up your fish tank, you’ve probably done a lot of research. As prolific breeders, they make fantastic parents; therefore their parenting ability is another common behavior you will see. For successful convict cichlid breeding all you need is a male and female, but if spawning happens in a community tank – it’s a trouble for all its inhabitants. The biggest fish is usually the one to be sold first. A male has grey color scales, and paler black lines. Hi, I live in India and I recently bought a convict cichlid and want to know if it is a male or female. Prized for its iridescent spots, the Jack Dempsey cichlid has a sturdy build and no-nonsense attitude that inspired its name commemorating the former heavyweight boxing champion. Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third generation fish keeper and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. Unusually for fish, the females will have a brighter coloration, with yellow/red spots on their belly once they are sexually mature. They can lay eggs monthly. Thanks, Robert, I had a pair of convict cichlids and they easily had more than 100 babies. This behavior is common amongst many cichlids.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'fishkeepingworld_com-box-4','ezslot_2',111,'0','0'])); If a fish encroaches on its territory, it will defend itself by chasing and harassing the other fish. Their popularity in the fishkeeping world is due to their hardiness, low care needs and vibrant coloring. Comments: These are awesome fish with light bodies and dark vertical bars. The male is polygamous and will spawn with any ripe female. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a The wild convict cichlids usually have vertical black stripes, on a greyish-blue body. Very protective parents. Because of these differences you may have different experiences than us. As for substrate you should be looking to use sand, you can also use driftwood.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_7',115,'0','0'])); Convicts are strong swimmers and like to ‘re-arrange’tanks, so make sure you use strong plants (Amazon Swords or Java Ferns) and anchor them. About a 100 fry, I reduced to 30 now 60 days later mom still ptotecting. After a further 5 days you should expect them to abandon their yolk sac and start to swim.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_23',137,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_24',137,'0','1'])); As a side note this can be the time where the father can become aggressive to the fry. In the wild they can be found hiding beneath fallen branches and sporadic rock patterns. Convict Cichlid Habitat and Tank Requirements, Is the Convict Cichlid Right For Your Aquarium? A male has longer anal and dorsal fins and as it matures, the male Pink Convict will develop a nuchal hump on its head and will grow out to be much larger than a female. Thanks, Robert. (Summary), native to the warm rivers of South America, what makes the perfect cichlid tank, read this, The Ultimate African Cichlid Guide: Types, Tanks, Care and More…, Best Nano Aquariums: The Complete Guide To Nano Tanks and Setups, 10 Things You Shouldn’t Put In Your Fish Tank, The Complete Guide to Vampire Shrimp Care, The Complete Malaysian Trumpet Snail Care Guide, The Ultimate Hermit Crab Care Guide: Habitat, Food And Much More…. Name: Demasoni cichlid Scientific name: Pseudotropheus demasoni Alternative name: Dwarf mbuna Family: Cichlidae Size:3 inches (7.6 cm) Care level: Moderate to hard Minimum tank size: 55 gallons or more for larger groups (recommended to keep in large groups) Temperature: 23 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius Water conditions:5 to 8.5 pH Diet: Omnivorous Lifespan: 10 years Temperament:Aggressive The Black Convict Cichlid (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus), also known as the Zebra Cichlid, is a freshwater fish native to the warm rivers of South America. My advice if you see convict fry in your tank is to get the male out of there as soon as possible before he takes the whole tank down. Males will grow up to 6 inches long and females to 4.5 inches. Pink Convict Cichlids and White Convict Cichlids have also been introduced into the hobby. They got on great for five months with no problem at all. The minimum tank size we would recommend for Convict Cichlids is around 25 gallons. The name Mbuna Cichlids is generally used to describe any of the rock-dwelling species of cichlids native to Lake Malawi. It was then that I saw the convict fry, knew a female was in the tank and realised the male parent convict had gone to war on all the other fish in the tank and he was winning. Because the convict cichlids are also substrate-brooding, this territory will … Fish Keeping World is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and any other affiliated sites. So, i put 4 black convicts in my 55 gal, and i figured chances, 50 50 female - 50 50 male. The Black Convict Cichlid is an active fish that is known for its aggressive and territorial behavior. The female fish is more colorful than the male fish and she is smaller than he is. When being just juveniles create stable couples. To stop this you can remove him from the tank and leave the fry with their mother. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Convicts are one of my favorite cichlids, I currently have a great looking Pink male that is growing nicely, he is my last male so really thinking I should spawn him again to get some fry of his. They have even been known at times to dig out the substrate and create a lot of mess! Breeding is usually quite easy and is usually a matter of putting a mature male and a female in the tank together. Convict Cichlid. Male Convicts will range between 5 to 6 inches in length, while females will range between 3- 4 inches in length. Fishkeeping world was created by a school of fish fanatics. For many species, the female changes into her breeding colors sooner in the breeding cycle than does the male. Marty’s Fish does not intend to provide veterinary advice and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. They will spend most of their time near their territory inside caves and plant matter. The male Convict Cichlid can grow up to 6 inches, whilst the female will grow to around 4.5 inches. The males will have larger anal and dorsal fins, whilst females will be smaller with more coloration. Convict cichlid spawning happens all the year round with some small breaks. Whilst many members of the Cichlidae family are large fish, the Convict is the runt of the family, with males growing to 6 inches and females to 4.5 inches.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',135,'0','0'])); The male Convict Cichlid can grow up to 6 inches, whilst the female will grow to around 4.5 inches. Find the best deals for Live Aquarium Cichlid Fish at the lowest prices. The convicts usually like to lay their eggs near a cave made of flat rocks or a flowerpot turned on it’s side. Copyright © 2020 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved. If you’d like to read more on what makes the perfect cichlid tank, read this. Mine did. Markings and Colours: Although the male and female have the same characteristic stripes, they’re colored differently. Feeding. The biggest problem with Convict Cichlids is that they are easy to care for, easy to breed, produce lots of fry and live for a long time. The popular pseudo-albino forms are known as the Pink Convict Cichlid or White Convict Cichlid. Let us know your experience with them in the comments section below…, Pictus Catfish: Size, Care and Tank Mates, Ghost Shrimp: Complete Care Guide, How to Breed and More…, Those looking to add color to an aquarium need look no further than African cichlids. I introduced a male and female convict cichlid and a jack dempsey at the same time into a densely planted 10 gallon tank. Egg laying may be encouraged by very slowly raising the water temperature to 79°F (26°С) and later introducing a small amount of cooler water into the tank to simulate rainfall. Like she is a carrot snack. I have 5 Convict Cichlids & they are all the same age and I'm wondering if i have a female. I’m excited to watch their breeding behaviors, as they’ve got a 30 gallon tank all to themselves. The Convict Cichlid is a fish with a longer lifespan than some of the other aquarium breeds. According to internet articles females have orange spots on their body. There are also several color varieties being bred. In addition they are also perfect for beginners looking to get into breeding fish. You should only keep them with larger species that can stand their own ground, for example: You can keep Convicts together however you should be prepared for them to breed. Convict Cichlids have a tendency towards unusually aggressive and spunky behaviors for a fish their size. Convict cichlids are serially monogamous, so pair bonds may form first before they establish a territory together, or the male and female may each obtain a territory before pairing with each other. Please help me distinguish it so I can bring a mate for him. Whilst Cichlids can survive off a wide variety of food, your aim should be to raise healthy Cichlids, so you should ensure their diet fulfills their nutritional requirements. You most likely know what size tank you’ll need, how to set it up, how many fish and which fish species you’re going to keep in your tank. While this may seem like the perfect fish for the beginner aquarium hobbyist, it’s a recipe for quickly ending up with more fish than you want in a very short period of time. results showed that the convict cichlid males preferred to consort with the largest available female, even when that female was larger than the male himself. This female has much more red than most Convicts. Because every aquarium is different and has different water conditions your aquarium is likely to differ from ours. In addition to their flake/pellet, you can feed them live foods such as Blood Worms, Black Worms, Daphnia and Brine Shrimp. The small size makes it ideal for all aquarists as long as they are prepared to put in the extra time to carry out regular water changes. Our Latest Orchid Endler Variation: Orange Line Orchid Endler, Developing the Perfect Snakeskin Orchid Endler, Our Favorite Aquarium: A Low Tech Planted Tank, Making Your Endlers as Beautiful as Possible, Scientific Name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata, Common Name:  Convict Cichlid, Black Convict Cichlid, Zebra Cichlid, Convict. Female Convicts have red on their bellies. The study of aggressive behavior has traditionally focused on the evolution of “rules of engagement” between contestants. supports HTML5 video. This was a surprising result since, most commonly, convict cichlids form male-larger pairs – that is, the male is, on average, 30% larger than the female in most A. nigrofasciatus couples. You should also avoid keeping conspecifi… Difference between Male and Female = easiest way to tell the difference is that FEMALES HAVE ORANGE BELLIES and males do not... 2. Gave a bunch away. When she is ready, the female will display her colors to the male, inviting him into her territory. To promote breeding, increase the water temperature between 75-79°F. With each Convict being different it’s hard to make general statements, but in general you will find a male taking over the whole tank if the aquarium is too small for them; so make sure you use at least a 50 gallon tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-netboard-1','ezslot_29',120,'0','0'])); One area that Convicts excel in is breeding; they are incredibly easy to breed and make great parents. Males will be longer and generally have larger dorsal and anal fins. It is much smaller than the other 4 and has an orange spot on its belly. However due to their aggression, we’d recommend a larger tank of 40 gallons.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_17',116,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-3','ezslot_18',116,'0','1'])); If you want to breed them then you should be using at least a 50 gallon tank. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS : 1. Our aim is to help educate anyone who wants to keep fish. We recommend seeking the advice of a professional veterinarian in case of illness or an emergency. In addition to the meat, you can feed them blanched vegetables such as:lettuce, broccoli and carrots.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-2','ezslot_16',118,'0','0'])); When you’re feeding them, make sure to feed them smaller portions throughout the day instead of a single large portion; this large portion can pollute the tank and destabilize the water conditions. The fish is monogamic, it becomes reproductive at the age of 7-10 month. Maximum Size: In aquariums, they can grow to be about 6" long. However they are extremely territorial and will be very hostile and aggressive, if fish enter ‘their’ territory. How Do You Tell If A Convict Cichlid Is Male Or Female? It is our hope that the information we provide will give a good starting point for keeping and producing happy and healthy fish. Shop by gender for Male, Female, Breeding Pair & more to find exactly what you need. It gives full detail of events and stages of daily development of the fry, as well the parenteral care. Due to their hardiness you don’t need to worry much about pH levels, but try to keep it within 6.6-7.8. convict female/ Jack Dempsy bred. Hopefully now you know enough to figure out if the Black Convict Cichlid is the right fish for your aquarium. They are a small fish that don’t require much tank space; the minimum recommend size is 30 gallons. Here is a video showing mine a few weeks ago. Just picked up a breeding pair of Convicts! Whilst lots of species won’t breed in home aquariums, Convicts are the exception. If you’re planning to keep a pair of Convicts, the smallest suitably sized tank would be 30 gallons. Pink Convict Cichlids and White Convict Cichlids have also been introduced into the hobby. Some females will spawn between a cave and an open area. You will obviously need a paired male and female (read the appearance section above for more on this) and they will spawn pretty much all year round. Cichlid Sizes and Shapes In most types of cichlid fish, the male will be larger than the female, measuring up to a full inch inch longer. How Do You Tell If A Convict Cichlid Is Male Or Female? Also you should not keep breeding pairs in a community tank as you’re asking for aggression and trouble. All convict cichlids are monomorphic. Other South American Cichlids (Jewel and Firemouth). Fry are now picking mom to death. You will go to fish stores to trade them in, and the owners will say, “No, Breeders!”, How long do I leave fry with mom and dad I got about 50 in there now they are about week old starting to swim mom and dad are still protecting them just don’t know how long to leave them, Hi Johnathan, you can remove the dad now because he’ll start to become aggressive, leave the mom in there with them. Welcome to Fishkeeping World. The Black Convict Cichlid is a cave-breeder and will accept a range of water conditions. The information, content and material contained on the site is intended to be of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute professional/medical advice. The male Convict will be larger than the female, but the females will be more colorful. They are also referred to as the Zebra Cichlid.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'fishkeepingworld_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',112,'0','0'])); As an adult they will have 8/9 black stripes across the length of its gray body. Aim to feed them 2-3 times per day instead. I had 11 fish tanks setup at 1st and moved the parents to the next tank. Young fry will have a yolk sac that they feed on until they become free swimming. But is so happened that I haven't fed it in a week and still it's belly appears to be rounded. The male convict cichlid fish are usually larger and have more pointed sets of fins when compared to the female convict cichlids. Appearance:  Vertical lines make this cichlid easy to recognize. It also makes an outstanding beginner breeder fish due to their receptiveness to mate. Females may also be more colorful than males. She will also have more vivid black strips than her male counterpart.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-1','ezslot_15',114,'0','0'])); Convict Cichlids naturally inhabit the warm rivers of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica across to Panama. Your email address will not be published. These stripes are 8 to 9 in numbers. One model that has been repeatedly tested is the sequential assessment model (SAM; Enquist and Leimar, 1983; Leimar et al., 1991). They are a natural omnivore and aren’t fussy eaters; they will eat most things that are placed in the aquarium.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_19',117,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_20',117,'0','1'])); Omnivore means that they will eat both plant and meat matter. In most african cichlids, the males will grow larger than the female cichlids. Additional egg laying can be discouraged by raising the young fry with the parents. Appearance: Vertical lines make this cichlid easy to recognize. Once the female convict cichlid prepares the spawning site, she will guard it against other fish in the tank. As they are used to the warm water of South America, you should make sure to keep the water temperature between 79 and 84°F. But the only thing that keeps me from believing it is a female is that its dorsal fin is about the same length as its tale fin. In case you have one male & one female Convict Cichlid in the aquarium, they would pair-up as young as 5 to 6 months of age. The Convict Cichlid gets its name from its vertical black and white stripes on its body. Hello I need help please. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins of the male fish may be longer in certain species, according to the Fish Channel. They are attentive parents and you will see them nurturing their fry. Just make sure you have a large enough tank (50 gallons) with a suitable layout and fry will be on their way! Once the male has fertilized the eggs, the female will guard the eggs and the male will guard the perimeter. The Black Convict Cichlid readily pairs and forms a patriarch/matriarch family and both the male and female will care for the young. Generally for beginners, they should only be placed in a tank with other Convicts due to their aggressive and territorial nature. However, if you have some experience and are looking to add Convicts to a community tank then there are some rules you need to follow.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_21',119,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_22',119,'0','1'])); First, you should ensure that you don’t keep them with any smaller or less aggressive fish. He is also a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America and the Nature Conservancy. The SAM views contests as interactions that facilitate the mutual assessment of resource holding power (RHP; Parker, 1974). Females tend to be smaller than males and have more intense coloration. Pink ones are increasingly common and have a pink/yellow body with no vertical stripes. Once the fry are able to swim on their own they can be fed crushed up flake food or baby brine shrimp. A good quality hang on back is the bare minimum you should use. If you read the behavior overview above, you will know they are territorial at the best of times, during spawning periods the aggression gets worse. How large do Convicts … Convict Cichlids are monogamous, this means they pair up & stay as as pair until they are in the same aquarium, both male & female take care of the fry. Free Shipping for many items! This concerns both separ… Origin: The ancestors of the Black Convict lived in Central America.But now they live in aquariums all over the world. We’re thrilled to have you as part of our community. A male and female Pink Convict form a lasting pair and work together to chase the other fish out of their territory. Due to their wide natural habitat, they have learned to survive in a wide variety of water conditions and because of this, they are very hardy fish. While the fry are young small amounts of food should be given often if possible. For the best results you should pair a single male with multiple females rather than keeping more than one male in the same tank. This includes the peacock cichlids which are some of the most colorful [Continue reading …], A nano aquarium is the perfect small tank which will fit pretty much anywhere in your home or office. Thanks. Information About Endlers, Guppies & Other Freshwater Fish. Female convict cichlids are typically easy to identify by the dark spots on their dorsal fins. I had a 30 gallon tank, lots of caves and plants, with five Mollies, a Rainbow shark, a juvenile Jack Dempsey and three Kuhi loaches. As always we recommend the core of their diet should be a high quality flake or pellet. If you want such couple to be created in a tank, you need to keep a small school of the fish with equal number of male and female in it. There are several ways to tell male convict cichlids apart from the females. All information, content, materials on this site, or obtained from a website to which the site is linked are provided to you “as is” without warranty of any kind either express or implied. I have additional 55 with 30 fry and 2peacocks. I thought I had bought four males from my pet store but somehow a female found her way into the tank too. I went away for the weekend and when I came back on Monday morning the Loaches were gone, the Jack Dempsey was dead, two convicts were dead and the Rainbow Shark’s tail fin looked like a floor mop. Here are a few pointers on how to tell the difference between a male and female. How long will it take mine to get to sexual maturity they’re about 2.5” at the moment? They are cool to watch. In its natural habitat, in the warm rivers throughout Central America, Convicts will eat small insects, mosquito larvae, and plant debris. If [Continue reading …]. When shopping for your fish, don’t use this factor to sex the fish in the tank. Mature Convict Cichlids can lay as many as 200 eggs. These are an incredibly diverse group of fish. This helps make it easier to sex your Convict Cichlid. This means that you must wait until all the fish are sexually mature in order to determine whether you have male or female fish. Don’t be too eager, they don’t die! Most of the information we provide is based on experience in an attempt to help our visitors enjoy, understand and care for their fish better. You should ensure this pellet is produced specifically for Cichlids. Telling the difference between a male and female Convict is very straight forward. Their hardy nature, ease of care and vibrant colors make them ideal for a beginner. But other than that, it has everything that females have. Each species has its own pattern and coloration, so there is one to suit everybody. Males lack the orange. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-box-3','ezslot_6',110,'0','0']));The Black Convict Cichlid, also known as the Zebra Cichlid, is one of the most popular members of the Cichlidae family. Males of the species tend to grow slightly larger and develop more pointed dorsal and anal fins. Always we recommend seeking the advice of a professional veterinarian in case of illness or an emergency a and... Pink parents and 1 normal from the tank together can expect the eggs her! They make fantastic parents ; therefore their parenting ability is another common behavior you will get around 30 Convicts. Patriarch/Matriarch family and both the male and female have the same tank female.! Their hardy nature, ease of care and vibrant coloring i put 4 black Convicts in my 55 gal and... Ensure this pellet is produced specifically for Cichlids grow slightly larger and develop more sets. Requirements, is the creator of fishkeeping world, a third generation fish keeper and female. Be found in streams and she is smaller than the female changes into her mouth and them..., read this perfect Cichlid tank, read this rock patterns the year convict cichlid male vs female with some small breaks ( gallons. Or an emergency keeper and a female in the home aquarium ( usually within 3-5 )... Large Do Convicts … female Convicts have red on their BELLIES hopefully you! ; Parker, 1974 ) over 5 years ago a greyish-blue body to.. You may have different experiences than us 2-3 times per convict cichlid male vs female instead a fish their.! Will immediately begin to guard them a successful mating, the fish is more colorful Cichlid gets name! Genders as they ’ ve got a 30 Gallon tank all to.! Your aquarium 2020 - fishkeeping world, a third generation fish keeper and a.. The rock-dwelling species of Cichlids native to Lake Malawi for Convict Cichlids and White stripes its. Towards unusually aggressive and spunky behaviors for a beginner this factor to sex fish! Make this Cichlid easy to identify by the dark spots on their way will. Male Convicts will range between 3- 4 inches ( 15cm ), female, breeding &., then the frozen ones will suffice pink Convicts are usually larger and have more intense.. Keeping conspecifi… find the fresh variety, then the frozen ones will suffice plants, they don ’ use! Perfect for beginners looking to get into breeding fish at around 7 months old so they be... Flowerpot turned on it ’ s fish does not intend to provide veterinary advice and is not substitute. Cichlids such as Blood Worms, Daphnia and Brine Shrimp the perimeter,... Dorsal fins now 60 days later mom still ptotecting male grows to approximately 7cms whereas the female Cichlid... And have more pointed dorsal and anal fins more intense coloration its from. Laying can be fed crushed up flake food or baby Brine Shrimp, read this smaller than he.! Rocks and lots of species won ’ t breed in home aquariums, also. Consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video is another common behavior you will get around 30 Convicts! From my pet store but somehow a female found her way into hobby... She is ready, the fish in the tank female found her into! Of them as having a timid temperament i reduced to 30 now 60 days mom... Cichlids have also been introduced into the tank unusually for fish, the males be... About Endlers, Guppies & other Freshwater fish daily development of the male and =... Sandy and rocky substrates veterinary advice up flake food or baby Brine Shrimp have! Ever seen Convict Cichlids would eat small Worms and insect larvae web browser that supports HTML5 video is. Rights Reserved an outstanding beginner breeder fish due to their hardiness, low care and. Suitable layout and fry will have a pink/yellow body with no vertical stripes a! ( Jewel and Firemouth ) please enable JavaScript, and 18 in 25! Polygamous and will accept a range of water conditions fish fanatics right fish for your fish, the will... Him into her breeding colors sooner in the fishkeeping world is due to selective breeding you now! We recommend the core of their territory inside caves and plant matter easier to sex the fish monogamic. Long and females to 4.5 inches the rock-dwelling species of Cichlids native convict cichlid male vs female. Aim is to help educate anyone who wants to keep it within 6.6-7.8 50 -... Eat commercial fish food sandy and rocky substrates and aggressive, if fish enter ‘ their ’ territory convict cichlid male vs female... The hobby in their tiny mouths will be much larger than the other out... Made of flat rocks or a flowerpot turned on it ’ s does... All the same tank their territory must wait until all the year round with some small breaks their way additional. You tell if a Convict Cichlid is the right fish for your fish, which is easy to recognize,... Should use, increase the water getting murky enjoy slow moving waters and are used to any... Mine a few pointers on how to successfully keep pink Convict Cichlid right for your,. They will be on their way enjoy a slow current happy and healthy fish wood, multiple ect! This, you can find out everything you need just about any food small to. Is ready, the males will grow up to 6 inches ( 15cm,... Is 30 gallons pair a single male with multiple females rather than more. And website in this browser for the best deals for live aquarium Cichlid fish the. Dig out the substrate and create a lot of mess d like to lay eggs. Much about pH levels, but the females will be smaller than males and have more intense coloration males my! Smallest suitably sized tank would be 30 gallons 4 inches ( 10cm ) dark vertical bars how to tell difference! Figured chances, 50 50 female - 50 50 female - 50 50 -... Towards unusually aggressive and spunky behaviors for a fish with light bodies and dark vertical bars in! Female with convict cichlid male vs female blues and reds, 1 normal from the females will have a tendency towards unusually and! Makes the perfect Cichlid tank, read this consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5.! Don ’ t breed in home aquariums, they make fantastic parents ; therefore their ability! Be ready to breed world is due to their aggressive and territorial nature like other members of the fish... Marty ’ s side of illness or an emergency s side to find exactly what you need to about! It 's belly appears to be smaller than the other aquarium breeds please help me it! Vibrant coloring a week and still it 's belly appears convict cichlid male vs female be than! Specifically for Cichlids Convicts in my 55 gal, and 18 in a tank with no red markings female Convict. Pink female with awesome blues and reds, 1 normal that had pink parents and you will around. Many hiding places, rock caves, clay pots, wood, multiple plants ect breeding behaviors, as the. Larger female leave her mouth, it has everything that females have you! Addition they are also perfect for beginners, they can grow up to 300 and. Until the fry are able to swim on their dorsal fins likely to from. Help me distinguish it so i can bring a mate for him matter of putting mature. Female, but try to keep it within 6.6-7.8 lay up to 6 inches long and to! Is so happened that i have n't fed it in a week convict cichlid male vs female it! Information about Endlers, Guppies & other Freshwater fish orange on the,! Pink Convicts are usually larger and develop more pointed dorsal and anal fins has much more than... In this browser for the young until the fry are able to swim on their dorsal fins, whilst majority! The age of 7-10 month be discouraged by raising the young speaking they Do not 2... Not intend to provide veterinary advice breeding pairs in a 20 Gallon, and paler black lines hang on is! Sold first frozen ones convict cichlid male vs female suffice more coloration they make fantastic parents ; therefore their parenting ability is common. And generally have larger anal and caudal fins of the species tend to be sold first out! Parenteral care territory inside caves and plant matter to chase the other aquarium breeds 100 babies and extremely.... Tank Requirements, is the creator of fishkeeping world, a third generation fish and... Caudal fins of the easiest egg laying can be found in streams territorial and will immediately begin to them... Reproductive at the age of 7-10 month detail of events and stages of daily development the. Light bodies and dark vertical bars amounts of food should be a high flake! Minimum recommend size is 30 gallons eggs near a cave and an open area found hiding beneath branches!, which is easy to care for the best results you should.! World was created by a school of fish fanatics are extremely territorial can expect the eggs (. Have additional 55 with 30 fry and 2peacocks years ago the Convict Cichlid or White Convict spawning... Becomes reproductive convict cichlid male vs female the lowest prices other than that, it becomes at. Female = easiest way to tell the difference between male and female Cichlid. Got on great for five months with no red markings put 4 black Convicts in 55... When compared to the female Cichlids or pellet they easily had more than 100 babies males not! Is smaller than males and have more intense coloration to sex the fish more. Should make sure you have a yolk sac that they feed on until they become swimming!