OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:08 am

I just bought these 2 lil female convicts to go with my males and then split the males up. I mean these are very tiny lil girls but I just looked in my tank and I have about 300 free swimming convicts in one and another 300 what looks to be eggs going to burst at any sec. Please help the snails did not do the trick what do I do? How do I feed them. I dont even have another tank setup yet. I got a 5 gal I can set up in the morn. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!!!! IM FREAKIN OUT.. I was not ready for this yet, I thought I had atleast a month. WTF!!!

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:51 am

Kacie,
The convicts are very good parents, they will tend to the eggs, and defend the fry. They fry will feed off of their egg sacks untill they become free swimming. When they are freeswimming, around 6-8 days after hatching you can feed them any commercial liquid fry food, finely crushed flake or baby brine shrimp.

What color are the eggs? White, or Brownish?

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:56 am

Ur the guy that picked out for me arnt u thet are brown eggs in on tank and about a million freeswimming eyeballs in the other tank both tanks have other fish in them that will eat em up though.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:58 am

I need a BIG tank

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:02 am

I think they need to be moved out of there tanks in order for them not to be eaten like lets say ur place:) no but really they are gonna be the othere fishes dinner all u can see are huge giant eyeballs they look like micro mini tadpolls

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:04 am

Yep, good to chat with you again :hi1:

What else is in the tanks with the convicts?

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:20 am

The parents are will do their best to protect the fry, but some may get eaten.

study

There is a lot of good info on the convicts in the profile section, click here to check it out: http://www.freshwatermadness.com/central-american-cichlids-f58/species-profile-convict-cichlid-cichlasoma-archocentrus-nigrofasc-t9.htm

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:23 am

Awwww that makes me sad. I am setting up the 5 gal tomorrow should I move them to there and if so how? Do you know anyon close getting rid of any tanks cheap and I do mean cheap:)

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:29 am

what does free swimming mean. They are all grouped together but are on there own they can go were ever and i dont see an egg sac on the anywhere, And they had them right under the filter intack there gonna get sucked up:(

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:32 am

I really dont think you need to move them, the parents will protect them. Are you planning on keeping them?

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:33 am

you can use a rubberband to secure a piece of filter material around the intake to prevent them from getting sucked up.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:35 am

You can always scoop them up in about 20-30 days and take them to Pet Source, they would love to have them.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:35 am

All i have is a 5 gal to set up and a 20 gal to set up I dont have a big enough tank I wish i Ahad another 45 or 55 but i dont and the 5 and 20 will take weeks to cycle guess i will get em started tomorrow and see how many babies make it thru do you want some?????? Smile

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:36 am

Like a piece of panty hose or something

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:43 am

Just as I mentioned at the pet store, convicts are concidered the rabbits of the fish world, and will spawn many times per year. I leave mine in the tank with their parents and trade them off to different pet stores around this area for supplies every few month.

Yes a piece of pantyhose will work just fine.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:45 am

It seems my convicts are always tending to eggs or fry. As soon as I remove the liltle ones they start the spawn all over again.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:46 am

if they survive thats what i will do

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:47 am

do urs ever make it

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:48 am

If you plan on keeping them you can use some water and gravel from your other tanks to cycle you others but remember if you keep them to long you with have even more babies to deal with in a very short time.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:54 am

ugh im stressed out now im going to bed I will set the 2 small tanks up tomorrow and get them started if you hear of anyone letting go of a tank for cheap let me know would ya.. Thanks so much, And I think U should take some of these fish:)

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:55 am

two thirds make it to the pet store. Some die, some get eaten. I to tried to save everyone of them when I first started keeping convicts. I learned early on that more survived when I left them in the tank with their parents and let them do their thing. I still find myself sitting in frount of their aquarium, watching them raise their young, it's really cool!

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:04 am

thanks for all the advice keep me in mind if a tank comes ur way my email is kacie5288@yahoo.com u can also im me at that but i gotta hit the hay im stressed and now i have a huge"r" list of things to do in the moren. bye

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:08 am

night...

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:14 am

Unfortunately, Convicts (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus) are quite prolific and a tankfull of fry is to be expected. Unless you have the time and patience, it is best to select only female convicts when buying this species. Tending to fry can easily become overwhelming and out of control. Good luck.

Subject: Re: OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!! Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:38 am

Apoc is right, if you are going to have M/F cons, you are going to have lots of babies. You can just pull the eggs when they spawn or use the babies for feeders. I have several (3) con pairs in my large community tank. They spawn constantly and the other cichlids just have a snack every now and then. Where in Missouri are you? I am in the Kansas City area.

OMG HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

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