Firemouth & Convict cichlid in 35 gallon tank help!

I recently moved my painted turtles from this 35 to a 55. I then put a 3ish maybe 3 1/2 inch male convict cichlid in. He was the weaker male in another tank with 2 male convicts. I also put a 1/2 maybe 3/4 inch firemouth cichlid in the tank. Both were placed in the tank at the time. The tank is heavily planted (real and fake), many large rocks across the bottom, and a tall piece of fake driftwood from the lft in the middle that is a major sight block. Anyway, I'm hoping my firemouth will catchup in size with the convict. Right now the convict chased the firemouth to the top corner behind the filter. I'm hoping they may become a pair (won't sell fry, probably end up as feeder fish) but I'm afraid the firemouth will die before having a chance to grow up. I have a few questions. Will lowering the temp from 76 to something like 70 lower the aggression? Will the firemouth die from this treatment? How long does it usually take a firemouth to grow to 3 inches if it is already 1/2 an inch? Any ideas on how to make the odds of them forming a pair greater?

Thank you! Sorry for so many questions!

 

if your firemouth is only a half inch and your convict is about 3 and half if it gets a hold of your firemouth it will try to eat it especially since they'll eat whatever fits in its mouth. I recommend getting a tank divider for a while they're only about 10 bucks anyway and great to have in the future

 

Are you the same person askeing about putting all the Cons in one tank the other day??

It won't change the Con is chasing it, not to mate, but to eat. By the time you get that Firemouth to 3" if properly cared for and the Con is for sure male the Con should be 5"+. It just won't work out. Eventually the Firemouth will die, one way or another.

If you want to breed something have you ever thought of a female Con??
Brian

 

I am the same person who asked about the convicts. I have a room full of tanks. Most of which are for turtles. I chose not to purchase them. I did already have 2 males though (these have been with Red Ear Sliders for over a year). One being the dominate male in another tank and this smaller male. All the fish stores near me do not have female convicts for sale.

Would dither fish help with the aggression? If so what fish would be good fish? Rosy minnows?

Thank you.

 

Any "dithers" added to that tank should just be called what they really are, feeders. It won't last long.



Brian

 

So dithers are not a good idea?

 

Dithers are a great idea in many situations, not so much in a 35gal with Cons though.



Brian

 

Okay. Is there anyway this could work? The firemouth has now found the heavily planted part of the tank and isn't being attacked and has more room to swim. If I keep them both well feed with this help them grow faster and be less aggessive? BTW there is no way the firemouth could fit in the convicts mouth. The firemouth is almost a third the size as the convict. Woouldn't the firemouth grow faster than the convict since it is younger and they grow faster while younger and then slow down?

 

btate617 is right. The Con won't leave the firemouth alone. It would be better to either put in a divider or take one of the fish out.

 

I would say no Male Cons don't really slow down until 4-5", it will take the FM a long time to get to that point. It doesn't have to fit in its mouth to be killed.

My opinion on over feeding to help slow down aggression. If you do this I believe all you are doing is conditioning the fish to always be on the look out for food. Which makes them more aggression. Just my thought on it.



Brian

 

I have never had a tank divider. Is it like a piece of glass with holes to allow ciculation of water? Would I make one out of plastic or glass? This would work?

 

it would be easier to go to your LFS and get one they really cheap like 10 dollars

 

How long will it take the firemouth that is 1/2 an inch to grow to 4 or 5 inches? 4 or 6 months?

I found some black mesh! I took out the convict and put him in with the dominate male again. This is just for overnight so they should be fine. I'm not sure how to attach the mesh to the sides of the tank. Any ideas. This is temporary so I don't want to use something to stick it if I can't get it off later.

Thank you!

 

Suction cups work best to put in a divider.

 

okay I will try that. How will this work? Half of the tank for the firemouth and half for the convict. This way I can condition the firemouth and not focus on increasing the convicts size.

I'm leaving the firemouth in this tank by itself. I may add a few black skirt tetras as they are not that small, hardy, and a little nippy to they can stand for themselves. Could I add a bristlenose pleco or would a few snails be better to clean the gravel and keep help with the algae?

Here is the current stocking:

15 gallon:

6 neons
6 cherry barbs (2 male 4 female) (I only have 3 right now but will get 3 more soon)
2 ottos (Used to be 4 but 2 died. I'm not replacing them)

Long 20 Gallon:

6 black neons
5 Platys (only have 2 right now but will get 3 more soon)
1 bristle nose pleco

35 gallon:

1 half inch firemouth
6 Gold Barbs (Only have 2 right now. Will get 4 more soon)
6 black skirt tetra (Only have 2 right now. Will get 4 more soon)
6 rosy minnows (not in yet. Will get them soon)
1 Bristle nose pleco

How does all this sound? Now the tanks all seem a little empty which I know know is good! I can switch the 6 rosy minnows with the cherry barbs if either one needs a 35 gallon more than the other.

 

Hmm. I'll let the other members to comment on the stocking. My only thing is that Ottos like to stay in groups. I suggest getting some more.

I'm glad you took the convict out of the firemouth's tank It was a very good choice on your part.

 

I was going to get more but the 2 I have have already eaten half the algae in the tank! I thought if I got more they would compete for food. I like rosy minnows but they are only sold as feeder fish at my lft and I don't have a tank to quarantine them. I may switch them with glowlight tetras. I would put them in the 15 gallon with the neons and move the 6 cherry barbs into the 35 gallon.

I'm glad the convict is out too. The firemouth looks so much nicer swimming and being a fish than being a body hiding in the corner behind the filter!

 

So know in my 35 gallon there are the firemouth, 6 cherry barbs, 6 gold barbs, and 6 blackskirt tetras along with a bristle nose pleco. How compatible are these species? I tried getting fish that grew to at least 2 inches so they won't look like snacks.

Thanks! The tanks look awesome!