Convict specie tank. How many to add?

[sealife]

If I was to turn my 27g, cube tank (47cm cube tank with Aquaclear 70 hang on filter) into a convict specie only tank, how many convict cichlids would you guys recommend I could stock the tank with?
I will most likely buy all females (I dont want to breed) and females normally grow around 9 cm to 13 cm max. (Smaller than males which can reach 15cm max). If I have too little aggression will taken place, if I have too much tank will rise with nitrites etc etc.
Looking for opinions.
Thanks.

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[Fishy Smell]

I've got 2 female cons (1 regular and 1 calico) and a female Sajica in with a variety of other juvenile cichlids in a 55. They really don't get very big at all, i think you could easily do 4 in a tank that size, maybe even stretch to 5.


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[swifty]

I've always wanted to keep an all female convict tank. Two would be your best bet, but you could try 3-4. The only thing is I have heard of them pairing up, even in all female tanks, so they will defend a egg site but not long since the eggs will expire/be eaten.

 

[jasonfishaddict]

I too have heard of females pairing and the aggressive defense of eggs so 3 max but if they do pair it's easier to relocate the odd one.


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[sealife]

I may try 4. 3 will be better for my water, but could also cause aggression levels reaching high and a single convict being singled out and picked on.

Thanks guys.

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[sealife]

Or 5
Thanks again.

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[Freakgecko91]

I wouldn't add more than 2 in a 27g personally. Especially a cube, where it will be taller, rather than longer. Why not look into less common species that are related to convicts? Something that if it does breed, won't be near impossible to get rid of, like any of the species in cryptoheros. C. nanoluteus comes to mind.


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[swifty]

Whatever you decide, I hope you share your experience here. I'm interested to know how this turns out.

 

[Fishy Smell]

I wouldn't add more than 2 in a 27g personally. Especially a cube, where it will be taller, rather than longer. Why not look into less common species that are related to convicts? Something that if it does breed, won't be near impossible to get rid of, like any of the species in cryptoheros. C. nanoluteus comes to mind.


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Not sure if you've kept Nanoluteus before, but i've found them to be touchy on water and extremely meek in Crytoheros terms. I would have thought they would be better with less combative fish than Convicts, even females. They are very pretty though.

Perhaps keep it to 4 and see how it goes, you can always move 1 or 2 if need be. It's always easier to remove than add because they wont take kindly to new-comers once established.

Or go for 2 as suggested and a female Sajica (nice yellow fins and body sheen) and/or female Panamensis (for a bit of red). I keep those all together in a 55 with no issues except the odd torn fin. I have a few other cichlids with them too, although most are still quite small.

I would probably long term house my 2 female cons, female sajica and female Panamensis in a tank like that.

 

[Freakgecko91]

I would never house more than a pair in a 27 cube.

And a pair of nanoluteus and a rougher dither, such as tiger barbs, would work great in a 27. Add other cichlids, and there will be issues. This is a rather small tank, many people won't even suggest a pair of convicts for a 29...I think 4, no matter the sex, is asking for trouble. Especially a species like panamense, which, yes, I have experience with.


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[GreenLily]

Poor advice on anything more than 2 convicts in a tank that size! I used to keep a pair of them in a 30 gallon and it seemed cramped just with two. I couldn't imagine trying to stuff two others in there. I urge you to only get 2 for that tank. They are a gorgeous fish, give them room to play and show off their personalities!

 

[MeCasa]

It's your tank and I'm not big on making suggestions since everybody's ideas and visions are different, but since your tank is small you might enjoy using it for a breeding pair.

Raising fry is remarkably interesting and satisfying

 

[GreenLily]

It's your tank and I'm not big on making suggestions since everybody's ideas and visions are different, but since your tank is small you might enjoy using it for a breeding pair.

Raising fry is remarkably interesting and satisfying

I completely agree with you on the breeding pair thought.

I don't care what anyone puts in their tank, what decor, substrate, watevers, I only comment on what I believe to be in the best interest of the fish being considered.

 

[Freakgecko91]

Hence why I recommend looking into cryptoheros species, the hobby has more than enough convict cichlids, they are so prolific they're often used as feeders


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[Fishy Smell]

I would never house more than a pair in a 27 cube.

And a pair of nanoluteus and a rougher dither, such as tiger barbs, would work great in a 27. Add other cichlids, and there will be issues. This is a rather small tank, many people won't even suggest a pair of convicts for a 29...I think 4, no matter the sex, is asking for trouble. Especially a species like panamense, which, yes, I have experience with.


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Ok, I misunderstood. I thought you were saying to put a couple of cons in with a couple of nanoluteus which would be rough on the nanoluteus. What you're suggesting is good but depends on the experience level of the keeper. Cons are a great starting point for a beginner to cichlids. Nanos are more specialist.

If you want a pair of cons to breed you want 2 in there long term but buy 6 at about 1-1/2" until you get a nice pair. Then remove the rest.

If you're talking about all females I still say 4 would be ok, and say this from my personal experiences. They really are not very big, not particularly aggressive and not massively likely to have the 'breeding issues' mentioned, but you can always move them in the event of trouble. All of us fish keepers know that we want the max we can get away with, and adding later will be harder than removing later.

Male cons are a totally different ball game btw. and it's possible the male will kill the female long term, should you decide to breed.

And Sajica, despite my being told are similar to a Firemouth are probably worse than cons. My male is a real killer.


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[Fishy Smell]

Ps...lots of hiding places makes a massive difference, small terracotta pots and lots of tall plastic plants might not look as good as some aqua scape ideas but it calms the hell out of most cichlids


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