SkyCrystal

I have a 1 gallon tank with a Convict Cichlid in it. I bought it spur of the moment without doing any research (Who knew taking care of fish could be so complicated?), so I didn't know that it needed more space. She seems to be doing fine for the moment though.

I've decided to upgrade to a 30 gallon tank, and also get some more fish. I did a lot of research. I think I'll get:

> 1 Leapord Cory
> 1 Gold Inca snail
> 5 or 6 Cherry barb
> 1 Killifish
> And Coal, My current fish

I do want to add more fish than that if I could, but I'm not sure if it's going to be overcrowded or not. My questions are: 1) How long could my Convict Cichlid survive in the 1 gallon?

2) Are all the fish I listed compatable? (I'm mostly worried about Coal)

3) Could I have more than the fish I listed in a 30 gallon tank?

And I'll take any advice that I can get. Thanks in advance!

-SkyCrystal

owndcheif

1) not long, something that is often said about fish tanks is the larger it is the easier it is to keep fish in it, a one gallon tank, imo, is too small to keep anything but a beta in. depending on the size of the fish/filter i would recommend something between doing frequent water changes (once every couple days) and getting him into something bigger ASAP!

2) i think all of those fish should be compatible, especially if coal is young. I personally have had success in this regard as i have kept a convict cichlid in a large community/semi aggressive tank but other people seem to have different opinions.

3) depending on what kind of filter you get for the 30 gallon i would say that you aren't close to overstocking and you could get a a few more fish.

Lucy

betta's should not be kept in a 1g bowl. That's 2.5" of fish! They have the same requirements as any tropical fish. Heat and filtration. In my opinion 5g is minimum for a betta although some members keep them in a heated filtered 2.5g.

Barbrella

A Convict cichlid is NOT compatible with any of the fish you mention, and will most probably kill and/or mangle them all.

Convicts are one of the most aggressive of all cichlids. It might be better to return it to wherever you got it since it cannot live in 1 gallon of water.(not many things can)

With the internet, there really should be no problem researching fish the way it was in the old days. Google is just a few keystrokes away!

SkyCrystal

Yes, Coal is pretty young. I'll try to get her in a bigger tank really soon!

Barbrella - Hmm. Maybe you're right. From what I've read (on the internet as well), I thought that if I let Coal establish her territory (like a flower pot) and give her a place all her own, the other fish will leave her alone and they could all live in peace. I don't know. I'll look deaper into that.

I made the mistake (again, spur of the moment and without doing any research whatsoever) of buying a several goldfish -not all at once- as a "playmate" for Coal. None of them lasted more than three days. After I realized that it was Coal who was killing them, I stopped buying fish. Again, I'm going to try to get that bigger fish tank really soon. I just hate flushing fish.

Thanks for all your help!

-SkyCrystal

mathas

Keep in mind that corys are social fish. If you want your potential future leopard cory to be happy and really exhibit its best and most enjoyable behavior, it will need others of its kind around.

MousePotato

Hello, SkyCrystal, and welcome!

I agree with most of the advice you have received so far regarding the aggressive nature of convict cichlids and their need for more space. You can start here http://www.fishlore.com/profile-convictcichlid.htm to learn a bit about your fish. Also check here http://cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=132. That should get you started. Beyond that, ask questions and do your research. I've spent more hours than I wish to count plugging scientific names into yahoo.com!

You are to be commended for trying to learn about your fish and how to provide the best home for her. Her tankmates should be selected very carefully! You are correct that she will be territorial, but you probably don't realize how much. She will probably claim the entire aquarium as her territory!

I would not recommend the tankmates you have selected. She needs to be kept with equally aggressive fish or your toilet will keep flushing. I am not a stocking expert, but you could post your question in that area of the forum and hopefully someone who knows a bit more about New World cichlids can help you with specifics.

Good luck!

Barbrella

It doesn't work that way, no matter how you look at it. You've already seen your fish murder the goldfish you put in with it. (goldfish shouldn't be put in with any tropical fish, never mind as playmates for aggressive cichlids.) The same thing will happen with any of those fish you mention wanting, and I'm sure you don't want to see them attacked, suffering and dead like your goldfish.

Unless you're planning to get a 6 foot long tank, and keep the convict with fish like Jack Dempseys or Red Devils, it really needs to be kept by itself. Convicts do not even hesitate to take on huge fish like Oscars.

SkyCrystal

Ok, so I guess keeping Coal in the same tank would be a really bad idea. I really don't want to return her though. Is there any way I could keep her(besides purchasing two tanks and putting her in one and the rest in the other)?

And thank you again for all the advice. It turns out that the tank I was going to buy on craigslist was sold right before the lady read my e-mail. There is a 20 gallon tank that I may be purchasing instead. Since that's 10 gallons smaller, would all the fish I plan on putting in there be cramped? I think based on what mathas said, maybe replacing Coal with another cory cat would be a good idea as well?

I'm so glad I posted here before I made the horrible mistake of putting Coal in the same tank with the other fish.

Thanks!

-SkyCrystal

Iron waffle

As for the number of fish in the 20g, it should be fine. I would say if you want tankmates with a convict, your options are quite limited. from my experience and what i hear, they are aggresive. You could always divide the tank. Although i'm not sure...

Barbrella

20 gallons will be fine for the fish you list, minus the convict and adding two more corys. What kind of killie are you thinking of?

You really need to get the convict out of the 1 gallon asap. Cichlids need large, filtered tanks to do well.

Me too!

Fish Addict

I have two Ideas for you...
1: See if the fish store will take the convict back
or if you can get at least a 25g.
2: Get a female convict, and don't get any other fish...

Barbrella

The problem with a m/f convict pair is that they breed non-stop. No petstore is going to constantly take in hundreds of baby convicts. They're just too easily available and not so popular.

Fish Addict

True... I wonder if there are any other convict owners for advice about that...

SkyCrystal

Yes! Today, I found a WONDERFUL deal on a 46g tank, and it is now sitting temporarily in my dining room! It came with everything minus gravel. Another thing I'm really happy about, is the fact that it came with a 10g (full setup) free! So I can keep Coal in the 10g, and keep a ton more fish than originally planned in the big tank.

Now that the entire problem with Coal is solved (Well, almost. I still have to get the tank set up and wait for the cycle), I was thinking of also purchasing another -maybe Albino- Convict Cichlid to go in the 10 gallon. I don't know. Maybe I should just keep her alone. I don't want to risk accidentally getting a male, and then ending up with millions of Convict Cichlids cramped in a 10g. But, the tank looks so large for such a tiny little fish. What do you think?

Thanks again! I'm so relieved that I don't have to get rid of Coal.

-SkyCrystal

Fish Addict

Convicts are supposed to have at least 20 gallons...

MousePotato

Does anyone know the ominous theme music for MTS?

SkyCrystal

Hm. Then maybe I celebrated a little to quickly. Maybe if I kept her all alone in there, she would be fine? After all, she has been in the 1 gallon tank for over 6 months now. Hmm... 20 gallons? Isn't that a bit much for 1 fish? Ecspecially for something that only grows up to be (If memory serves) 4 inches. How long would she live in a 10 gallon? Really, my only 2 options are to either get rid of her, or put her in the 10g. I'd much rather keep her.

-SkyCrystal

Shawnie

a single convict can be in a 10 gal..she would love it! maybe 2 or 3 cories for the bottom...congrats on the two larger tanks! she will be in heaven going from 1 gallon to 10 gallons

MrsM3197

My husband thinks it's the same theme for "Jaws". Every time it happens it takes a bite out of his wallet!!!

Sky, Congrats on the new tanks. I'm happy you get to keep Coal, and get a bunch more others!

capekate

Hi SkyCrystal, IMO your convict should be fine in that 10g by itself. 20g tanks are recommended for a breeding pair. I had convicts in my community tank with Discus, Angel fish, cardinal tetras and rainbows and I never had any aggression from them towards the others. I think that the aggression if any is minimal when you only have one convict in the tank. Just my opinion based on my own experience and may differ greatly from other folks who have kept them.

SkyCrystal

Thanks everyone! I have the 10g tank set up, and now all I have to do is wait for the cycle! I think I would have made a disastrous mistake that would eventually chain to more problems without Fishlore. I'm so glad that this worked out.

Oh, and Shawnie. I think I'll just stick with Coal alone. Maybe I'll get 2 or 3 Mystery snails as substitute for bottom feeders.

Thanks to everyone once again! You all have been marvelous help to me. I'll definitely post pictures once everything is up and running (that goes for both my tanks).

-SkyCrystal

Christian Patti

congrats on your new big tank.. get us pictures when you can!

SkyCrystal

I've decided to put Coal in the tank before the cycle is done. I think she had a better chance of dying in the 1 gallon than with all the ammonia build up. It was really gross when I poured out the water to the 1g. I have no idea how Coal survived in such horrible conditions! She looks so much happier in the 10 gallon. I'll see if I can put up pictures later today (that is if my brother lets me borrow his camera). Also, I got 2 Mystery snails. I think Incredible pets sold me a dead one though.

My dad thinks that I should get some more fish for the tank. Of course, I won't put them in until after the cycle. I was thinking of a Kribenses Cichlid. What do you guys suggest for a 10g? I'm not sure what kind of fish would fit in a smaller tank like that. And of course, I need something equally aggresive as a Convict Cichlid.

-SkyCrystal

Fish Addict

Whoa! Definitely not other cichlids... maybe at most some cories or ottos... but you have to remember that this is the fish that picks fights with Oscars and wins!

SkyCrystal

Wouldn't Coal murder cories and/or ottos?

Red1313

Oto's are usually fairly ignorable fish from all accounts. Also both of them are very peaceful species that aren't going to her many reason to chase them. (I think that's the compatability logic there)

SkyCrystal

Well, today I went to Nahacky's aquarium and asked the guy who worked there what he recommended. He said that a Firemouth should do OK with Coal. So I took one of the smaller ones home. BIG mistake. I'm taking Blade back tomorrow. Poor little guy. Hopefully he'll survive this entire ordeal.

In another one of my threads, someone said that they bred Convict Cichlids in a 5g and they were fine. I'd really like to try it. Do you think that it would be OK if I got a Male for my 10g?

Oh, and about the cories and/or ottos. Seeing what Coal did to Blade (my Firemouth Cichlid), I don't want to risk it. Blade hardly ever comes near Coal, and still he comes close to death. I feel so bad about it. I should've known better.

-SkyCrystal