by junior on Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:55 pm
[b]Convict-- Archocentrus nigrofasciatus[/b]
[b]TEMPERMANT:[/b] This is perhaps one of the most forgiving fish, they are amazing survivors and adaptors. However, they are not for a peaceful community tank fish. These fish are not known for their gentle dispositions, and need to be kept with other aggressive, larger fish that will hold their own, convicts have been known to harass other fish to death. They have been known to pick fights with Oscars more than three times their size, and win. Best kept alone or with their own kind, but fascinating fish to watch.
[b]ADULT SIZE/GROWTH RATE:[/b] A full size male will reach 5-6 inches and a full grown female 1-2 inches smaller. They grow rather quickly, about a half an inch a month.
[b]COMMON NAMES:[/b] Convict cichlid, Zebra cichlid
[b]MINIMUM TANK SIZE:[/b] At least 20 gallons for a single male, or a 25 for a pair.
[b]FEEDING:[/b] Convicts are very messy eaters and requirer a lot of food. Most of their diet should consist of a quality cichlid pellet. The other part of their deit can be insects and worms. You can also feed beef heart which is easily obtained at any local butcher shop, but you must cut it up yourself.
[i]One thing that is highly discouraged is the feeding of feeder goldfish, they carry a lot of diseases that could make your oscar ill, if not kill it.[/i]
[b]BREEDING:[/b] Convicts are well known for their willingness to breed, one notable comment is that they will breed in a mud puddle and for the most part that is true. As long as they have ample space and have decent water quality a male and a female will breed. A male and female is easily obtained, a female will have orange on her sides and a male will have longer anal fins. Beprepared though, beacuse when convicts breed they become exteremly aggresive and will harass if not kill everything in the tank with them. Convicts will also breed at a very young age, about 1-2 inches. So a breed pair can be made right out of the pet store, a lot of the time they will even breed in the pet store tanks.
[i]One last thing to note is that it is about impossible to even give away convict fry. [/i]
A nice Male Convict:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/Barbokla/Convict751105003x7c.jpg[/img]
A young female with the orange tummy, she is ready to spawn:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/Barbokla/BabsWetPets12_03FConvictReSiz.jpg[/img]
A young female PINK convict:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/Barbokla/Others%20pics%20to%20host/75d8abfec3.gif[/img]
A Female convict watching her fry of 100+
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/Barbokla/Convictseggsfrymom3.jpg[/img]
PLEASE POST YOUR QUESTIONS ON CONVICTS IN THE CICHLIDS BOARD.. Thank You..
Last edited by
Barb Okla on Tue Oct 24, 2006 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.