Morcs Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Hey guys, just looking for some advice regarding my tanks. I have a Aquaone 620T (29gal) beautfiul planted tank, and a small 20L original bought for breeding. 2 Male neon drawf gouramis Pair of rams Kuhli Loach Bristlenose Blue acara (big) Angel (big) Female Betta 3 male bettas Female guppy (male got pulled apart..) Jewel (baby) 3 convicts (babies) The male fighters are in one of those betta compartment things, I keep 2 in there, and the 3rd in the tank, and rotate them. I figured this isnt a great long term solution, and without their own tank, ill probably have to move them on. I did have one baby convict in the main tank, but it chased everything except the acara and angel, royally terrorized the guppie and female betta, and gave one of my VT bettas a haircut. So I redid my betta breeding tank into a wee convict tank and bought 2 more hoping a pair will form - then the plan is for the left over con to go in the community tank. Im selling the guppy and the bettas. do you think the tank is big enough to house 3 convicts with the remaining fish? I love the fun, rowdy cichlids that look like they have a bit of intelligence and would love more, but would be at the expense of moving on the peaceful fish (angel, gouramis and even rams) Any ideas as to my options? its all been a bit trial and error so far. A 4-5ft tank isnt gonna happen until next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 You have a very unusal selection of fish there. I my expereince with convicts you MAY be ok if they are all males - but if they pair up then you're in trouble or should i say your other fish are in trouble. But if they end up being all female then all I see ahead for your tank is absolute kaos (sp?) By the way, convicts are very prolicfic breeders :roll: just add male + female = 1000's babies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Thanks for your reply. Yep hence ive got hopefully a pair to breed - will hopefully try using some of the fry as feeders for the other cichlids. Out of the 3 cons theres is one which is slightly smaller and gets a bit of grief from the other two, hard to sex but I think hes a male - so will be good in the other tank.? So the females are more aggressive toward otherfish than the males regardless of if its spawning time or not? Funnily enough the gouramis (usually scared of most things that move) have no problems with the cichlids, only other anabantoids really. Its been quite a good selection of fish, everything was fine until added a convict and a jewel. Removed the convict and peace was restored As its quite a tall tank, and only the anabantoids (Dash up for air) and guppy really frequent the surface, all of whom are leaving bar the gouramis, will about 10 schoaling tetras (like penguins maybe) be okay in my setup? once again, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 To me you have 2 options.. Remove the blue acara, jewels, convicts and possibly angel (depending on if you want small fish tetras/guppies etc to survive in there) and restock the tank as a community tank.. Or move on all the community type fish, gouramis, rams, koolies, fighters and guppy and do a cichlid tank.. The tank as you have it isn't going to work those cichlids are too aggressive and will get big enough to eat the other fish. You also have to be wary that although the 620T looks good and holds alot of water it is not suituable for stocking up with cichlids as they like to establish terriotories and with that tank being taller rather than longer it doesn't have the footprint for heaps of fish. Also having a lower surface area than the same volume standard sized tank (ie not tall) means you can put less fish in there. Who helped you with your stocking? Or did you go and choose fish that you liked and chuck them in? End of the day sometimes these things work for you and thats great but I wouldn't recommend it I don't think it will work long term, if your cons to pair up you will end up with hundreds of babies that other fish can't seem to eat and you can't give away so bear that in mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Yea as Ryan said, the tank is proberly not good to have convicts in it and proberly also the jewel. Convicts are extremely aggressive and will terrorise everything in the tank as they get older and also fairly aggro when little to. I'm not sure what you meant by the 20 litre tank? have you got the convicts in that? as that will be way to small for them they do pick on there own kind and will cause nothing but grief. In saying that - I have convicts, but have them separated - males in a 700 litre african tank and females in a 400 litre tank and believe it or not the female tank is the HORROR tank they are so nasty where's the males are quite cruisey. I way prefer the males I started breeding them so I could feed the babies out to my turtle but the turtle doesn't like them now - so you have to think of that also or else you'll end up with 100's of babies that your fish won't eat and no one will buy off you :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 How big are the convicts? you should be able to sex them at about 2-3cm females should have orange or red or pinkish pigments in the belly I'm not really sure about your other fish and what will go with them - someone should be able to give you more ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Yep am aware of the surface area problem. Community is not what im after really - the usual community fish are generally quite boring. A Cichlid tank is my plan - with getting a longer tank around xmas time, holiday project The Khuli is fine, he has nice hidy holes and doesnt get bothered, same with the bristlenose. The acara is unbelievably peaceful, and hangs out with the angel rather than tearing around. It wasnt random stocking, every fish was researched as much as possible, it was just a case of pushing the boundaries of the 'standard' compatibilities.. Im thinking of sticking with the acara, angel, jewel, bristle, khuli, and rams. Thinking of tetras to make the rams more comfortable perhaps. Convicts will stay in their own tank for the time being until I figure something out. Its a very small tank, but has good hiding places, and all 3 are around 3cms at the moment. One is sexable as a female. I may have to look at a bigger tank sooner, the missus isnt keen as this one has only been running for a few months. Many thanks for the replies guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Hey good luck with the tank and keep us posted - post some pictures up if you can Good luck with the convicts, they are really cool fish with heaps of attitude depending on the correct fish selection for them and they look really cool when they get size on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 Ive got to take pictures of the bettas tonight for trademe, so will take some pics of the tank too just out of curiosity, whats the minimum tank size I could keep say 1 convict, 1 jewel and 1 acara? a 3 foot? Probably no plants, but lots of wood and rocks. then I can setup the Tall tank as a Angel community tank to keep the missus happy EDIT. Pictures. Damn fish are hard to photograph. Only the Blue Acara came out nicely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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