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hi everyone!

My breeding pair of convicts are in a 33 gallon aquarium, with lots of caves and a clay pot...they were hanging around one of the caves, although i could not see inside, i assumed they layed their eggs. They hung around there for about 4 days, and now the male swims around doing his own thing, but when i stick my hand in the water he defends the female, who hides in corners and caves. They are mouth breeders right? so im thinking she has them in her mouth now.

Q#1: what is the females behaviour like when she has the fry in her mouth?

Q#2: does the male protect the female always? or only when she has fry with her?

Q#3: if she gets upset will she swallow the fry?

thanks for your help, addict

Addict,
Convicts aren't mouthbrooders. They're egglayers.
In my experience, the female guards the eggs and fry and the male guards the territory even when they aren't breeding. It sounds like they might have spawned. You might be able to see fry if you look really closely at the gravel surrounding the female.
When she's staying in a cave, it would be a good idea to feed right above the female to make sure she gets food. When my female had eggs, she wouldn't even leave her cave to eat.
Do you know what you'll be doing with the fry once they're old enough to be sold? -Some- pet stores will take convicts after they're 1.5", but, in my experience, they won't give you much in trade for them... if they give you anything. Watching the fish take care of their fry is a lot of fun, though, and having them is totally worth it even if you don't make money off of them.
Best of luck with the fish.

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