Can I add a single convict to my 55?

The tank as a dozen tiger barbs and a firemouth. I was wondering if I could wait until the firemouth is big enough to sex, and then add a convict of the same gender. (I've read how they are notorious for breeding with just about anything)

 

You sure can. It shouldn't have issues with the firemouth unless you get one that's just psychotic. I would keep an eye on the tiger barbs though...it might kill them. All depends on the personality!

 

I disagree. Convicts are more aggressive than Firemouths, IMO. All the Firemouths I've ever kept with Convicts ended up getting beaten up or killed. Go for another Firemouth instead.

 

I don't want fry. If I did end up with a male and female firemouth, what are the chances of them spawning if I don't do anything special to condition them?

 

I was also thinking about a jewel cichlid but I've read a lot of mixed reports about them. It seems to be a 50/50 split on aggression. I really like my firemouth and I don't want to take a chance.

 

Jewels are vicious little things. I don't recommend mixing SA/CA cichlids with Africans. You would have better luck with a convict. Rogue is assuming more than I am about the aggression of Convicts. I don't know if he's kept them one on one, in pairs, or what the genders or personalities of the fish were. Another factor is when were they introduced to the tank?

As I originally said, it all comes down to the personalities of the fish. The majority of Convict killings happen because a fish enter the territory of a breeding pair. Another small portion is as you stated, their tendency to breed with anything cichlid. Sometimes the courting doesn't go to plan. You could mix them and it'll go well, or you could mix them and the Firemouth well get killed. You could even mix them and the Convict will be killed, though by their reputation there won't be anyone who will believe it unless it actually happens. It does help to introduce them both while they're young. Adults that have aged separately are more likely to fight.

I don't believe it's as cut and dry as was stated. If you don't want to take any risk at all then wait until your Firemouth is large enough to sex, then find one similar size and gender in a store. The alternative is get something like a Blue Acara. That would be a fish that would go really well with the Firemouth without any issues.

 

Most cichlids are unpredictable. You take a chance with any of them. I like the convict idea also. Just make sure as others suggested, the tiger barbs are larger or they will be a snack

 

I still think that convicts are some of the more aggressive cichids for their size and will beat up Firemouths. I bred them for years and kept them as singles and as pairs. Didn't really matter how large of a tank I kept them in, they always ended up beating up my fish like Firemouths.

 

I don't think my firemouth will be much of an issue aggression wise. He's only a baby still at 2 inches and may change as he matures, but so far he's got the perfect attitude. He minds his own business. He doesn't actively chase the barbs but they do give him his space.

I think I might do some more reading on Blue Acara. They do look nice and might be less of a gamble then a convict. And if I want to get another cichlid, it might be better to do it soon while the firemouth is still small to minimize the risk.

Plus, there's no LFS nearby where I can get an adult convict. I gotta settle with petsmart and petco.

 

I have kept Convicts in Pairs and singles with a single Firemouth and my Firemouth both times didnt get the better end of the stick. The Firemouth was just too soft for my Male Con. I removed the female then removed all the fish, reintroduced them into a tank with a new look and it just didnt workout so now the Firemouth is in its own 30 gallon. I wouldnt recommend it, Rogue is the one who saved my Firemouth because I kept thinking it was ok and his comments were the reason I removed it and rehomed it in its own tank