brady12

I just bought 3 convict cichlids last saturday and I got 1 breeding pair. But the problem is they don't act like their a pair. I have this skull cave and the female goes in their and stays in their. She only moves if someone comes near it. If the male comes anywhere near it she chases him away. what could this be? And is their anything I can do to encourage them to become a pair again and breed?

brady12

Also my female fish doesn't appear to be eating at all even though she doesn't act like she's sick. What could this be?

Shawnie

you sure they are f and m?
she will hide after laying eggs..then after a few days, mom and dad will each switch off watching the eggs...get a flashlight and look in the cave for tannish colored eggs...

brady12

yeah the guy at the pets place said they where and he said they where a breeding pair.

Shawnie

most pet stores give inaccurate information..check on the bellys of any of the 3 and see if there is an orange/red coloration ..if so, thats the female

brady12

yeah one of them has the orange/red color

Shawnie

then keep her, and only one male....you will have to return or put the other in another tank..what size tank are the breeding pair in?

brady12

right now I have them in a 5g tank but it's only temporary until I can get a new one. I noticed something today it seems to be the male chasing the female not the female chasing the male. And I have also noticed that he has been rubbing up against stuff in the tank

Shawnie

im sorry brady but 5 gals will probably end up with one of them stressed or dead ...they have to be able to get away from one another even if they are a pair... they sell 20 gal setups pretty cheap..and craigslist has tons of 20 gals right now just about giving them away....is the tank cycled? and rubbing could be many different things..xmas is coming why dont you ask santa for a 20 gal? a 5 gal with 3 of them is asking for major trouble ..

brady12

do u think they will spawn in a 5g?

Shawnie

I cant begin to guess but the chances are slim as they are pretty agressive by nature without the stress of just 5gals......but if they did, the male that isnt part of the pair will deffinately be killed....but its anyones guess

brady12

When they where at the pets store there where probably 10 or so in a 5g at the pets store and they where breeding there where eggs in the cave thing they had in the tank

brady12

they are still pretty small I would guess they all are probably about 3 in

Shawnie

pet stores are out to make money..my advice is for free
just giving you my opinion thats all ...end result is your choice..but I do wish you well !

brady12

thanks for ur help I think I will buy a bigger fish tank If I where a fish I definately wouldn't want to be in a small tank like that. I have one more question. 1 of my females doesn't appear to be eating at all even though she seems fine and she doesn't look sick!

Shawnie

probably from stress..because convicts are super piggies....

brady12

do u think she will start eating again? And for some reason the male keeps chasing the females around the tank. What does that mean?