syndos and 2 convicts cichlids?

greener · Post by **greener** » 29 Mar 2007, 22:18

I have one male and one female convict, I am looking for a bottomfeeder to put in the 30 gall. tank, the syndo really caught my eye... would they be compatible? maybe not if the convicts are breeding but maybe otherwise?
Any responses would be helpful!

Thanks
-Chris

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 30 Mar 2007, 08:55

Careful, cause Convicts aren't just called so cause they look lioke inmates....their behaviour is just the same

I've got a 40G with 2 breeding convict and it's safe to say that apart from the ever hiding Ancistrus NO catfish is safe from them in that tank.

the upperleveldwellers are generall.y left in peace -chased but not taken apart- but bottomfish are toast.

you now have "just a male and a female", but they WILL pair up and that's when the 'fun' starts.

FWIW: convicts are ALWAYS breeding, and it's a non workable situation to leave a catfish in there when they're not and catch it again and again when they do.

NO catfish in this case.
or a significant bigger tank and then you might think of one. we're talking 75-100G range though, and other cichlids to keep the convicts busy.

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 30 Mar 2007, 11:12

As stated, convicts are always breeding - unleess they have fry, or they are preparing to breed.

The best way to keep the convicts occupied is by adding signigficantly bigger ci-chlids, which would eat the convicts if given a chance

However, than we are not talking about 30 G, but more realisticly 300 G, or bigger.

Wonderfull tanks can be made this way, but it is not what you are looking for, I'm afraid.

greener · Post by **greener** » 30 Mar 2007, 14:25

not even some of the really armored catfish?

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 30 Mar 2007, 18:54

no, because with the exception of certain Pleco-species (wich grow far too big for this tank), armored cats are mostly very very peaceful.
and since the eyes nor the fins are armored, these cats can be literally picked apart by the more nasty cichlidspecies.

I've seen far too many Hoplo's, Corydoras and Doradids wich were mutilated to death by Central American or even Malawian cichlids to my liking. way far too many.

greener · Post by **greener** » 30 Mar 2007, 19:30

well that is really a shame... i was really looking forward to getting one....what would be the minimum size tank for a suitable catfish? thanks for your input!

-chris

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 30 Mar 2007, 21:33

125gallon?

you simply can't have both......as Bas said above, and I.

you can keep and breed Convicts OR you can keep a bunch of catfishes. it's as simple as that.

if you really want to keep a small Central American cichlidspecies with some catfishes, go for thorichthys.
these are SO much more docile compared to Convicts it's a world of difference. they will defend their breeding turf, true, but they will not go on a "search & destroy mission" to find that one hiding catfish.

good fishkeeping is all about making choices, really. and if you refuse to choose the smartest thing to do is to set up another tank.

greener · Post by **greener** » 31 Mar 2007, 16:00

well, i appreciate the honesty. I am getting 55 gallon tank so I may either just put the cons on their with another pair... or start another tank...

...if i was to remove the male, and add maybe another kinda cichlid? is this a option! feel free to bite my head off on this one if i am wrong!