FishProfiles.com Message Forums

hi, i was thinking of getting some convicts to go along with my pair of oscars but i have had some bad experiences with convicts (being bullies) with other (larger) fish before. but i think the only reason the convict was aggressive was because the tank was too small.

iv heard that convicts are prolific breeders and are very protective parents. is this true?

if yes, would it probably be better to therefore get just males or just females?

the convict i had problems with before was a female, id prefer to get more females because they are more colorful but are females more aggressive then males?

thanks in advace
Carlos

hmmm to takers to answer my Q's?

look at the thread i posted in photo booth...my 55 gallon oscar tank has one female black convict in it and 2 very large oscars.. she is left over of a previous attemp to breed from 5 convicts purchased.turned out i didnt buy enough and they started territory wars ate each other fins off.

I put her in there thinking she woldnt have a chance (maybe a quick snack). but no she is doing fine and is a vauable asset to the tank, she cleans up after thier messy eating habits...and she seems to be much faster and smarter than them(I do provide her a hiding place to go to when she needs, that may help). ither that or theyve formed a bond being that they are of similar fish species. The oscars never really show any interest in her as being a snack..

iv heard that convicts are prolific breeders and are very protective parents. is this true?

Yes, this is very true.

I would only go with females, but also tank size is very important. How big of a tank will these be going in? Oh, and for the most part males are usually more aggressive than females if they're not breeding. When referring to a breeding pair either could be more aggressive than the other. Female convicts should get along ok with most larger cichlids. I have several females with my pair of Red terrors and so far so good.

Last edited by jason_r_s at 06-Oct-2004 04:09

thanks illest will check out those pictures soon!

my 55 gallon oscar tank has one female black convict in it and 2 very large oscars

i dont want to sound like a nag illest... but dont 2 very large oscars need a minimum of abt 75 gallons?

yes i have been looking for a smaller fish to help clean up the mess my oscars make while eating! and from what iv seen a convicts can sure hold their own against bigger fish!

the tank is abt 80G, the oscars arnt too big yet but i think one or two females will be more then enough!

yes its ither that or off to the petstore he goes...i didnt plan on them being together it was the one oscar for years, only aquired him through my little brothers overstocked 55 he sold me that i thinned out and put him in my other 55 with the other oscar, the tank is bare besides one small piece of slate laying up against a wall...



another words he prolly better off crammed then some punk kid at the pet store buying him and killing him... they arent exactly barbs, oscars are lazy fish so they dont really swim much...

Last edited by illest at 09-Oct-2004 13:26

I wouldn't really call oscars "lazy fish". they are quite active when they're happy. however, if they're not happy due to poor water quality, not enough space to swim around in or not being fed properly they will sulk and become very inactive. In other words, an inactive oscar is probably an unhappy oscar.

well then my first oscar isnt happy then. he laid back and chilled like he does now before the 2nd. was introduced.

as soon as i walk up to the tanks they get rowdy like they wanna eat. even when i just walk by i can see out of the corner of my eye them trying to talk me into feeding them. i think if there was sumthin wrong with them they wouldnt be able to do that so easy. most of the time they are just gliding around. oscars only move radipidly when they are begging for food.