Is the Convict Cichlid Right for Your Aquarium? Observe the behavior of the male cichlids. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If you place a male and a female convict cichlid together in the same tank, the chances are good that the fish will spawn at some point. Because of this, you should make sure to have a strong filtration setup to stop the water getting murky. When the female cichlid has a mouthful of eggs, her throat expands, and she can barely close her mouth fully. we have not been doing this on purpous. This involves dancing, flaring of the fins, and shimmying. We're on our second batch, needed to know what to do. Nov 11, 2010 #1 I have a convict cichlid female who looks abit fat just a little tho but she has something sticking out her bottom. Unusually for fish, the females will have a brighter coloration, with yellow/red spots on their belly once they are sexually mature. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. I have ramshorn snails and 2 mystery snails I know I will need to put into a different tank. The most commonly known variation of the convict cichlids is the one that has been named zebra cichlid. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English with a creative writing concentration from Marietta College. That being said, theres no one-size-fits-all rule here. Im excited to watch their breeding behaviors, as theyve got a 30 gallon tank all to themselves. we then got a set of breeding pink convicts. Gave a bunch away. Once the fry become free-swimming, the parents may begin to herd them around the tank. However, this time can vary greatly depending on the species and may be shorter or longer in some cases. Egg care in convict cichlids is relatively simple. Lets look at them and some more signs in detail below. How do you know if your convict fish is male or female? What Size Do Convict Cichlids Start Breeding. Omnivore means that they will eat both plant and meat matter. Last night I saw the fry. Last night I saw the fry. Mouthbrooding species of cichlid and some other species actually care for their fry for several days (or longer) after they hatch. It will mostly be found in larger streams and rivers, sheltering itself near rocks and sunken branches. Convict cichlids are among the most popular and commonly bred cichlids in the hobby. What Alcohol Do They Sell At Gas Stations . Although her hunger wont be too palpable, she will try to eat a tad bit more as she needs to replenish energy to carry the eggs. . On the other hand, the substrate brooding cichlid will lay her eggs on a flat surface and tend them until they hatch. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Got so bad I start sucking up the fry while doing water changes. They will become intolerant of other prying fish and bottom dwellers at this time. So, here are a few signs of a bloated cichlid that will hopefully help you tell it apart from pregnant ones. They can lay eggs monthly. They enjoy slow moving waters and are used to sandy and rocky substrates. WebConvict cichlids are extremely prolific. In the wild, most convict cichlids will spawn six to eight times during their lifetime. Once the pit is complete, he will dance and shimmy to coax the female and lead her there. Whilst Cichlids can survive off a wide variety of food, your aim should be to raise healthy Cichlids, so you should ensure their diet fulfills their nutritional requirements. The belly will get swollen and rounded when the eggs are developing. so they have a set of babies. They usually will lay them on a structure in the tank. I say its because I am not 100% sure what sex it is in this thread in this sub-forum in the entire site One of the most obvious signs that your cichlids are about to breed is when their colors intensify. If youve ever seen Convict Cichlids before you could be forgiven for thinking of them as having a timid temperament. When breeding convict cichlids, it is crucial to consider the aquariums size. Cichlid Breeding Guide | All Of Your Questions Answered, Tropheus Duboisi Cichlid Care Guide | Diet, Habitat, Breeding, Accessories. Take the fry out after they start maturing. Mine did. Is it possible hes stressed and needs to be moved to his own tank? Youll need a power filter which has the capacity to filter at least double the volume of your tank. You should ensure this pellet is produced specifically for Cichlids.In addition to their flake/pellet, you can feed them live foods such as Blood Worms, Black Worms, Daphnia and Brine Shrimp. Some examples of mouthbrooding cichlids are humphead cichlid, tropheus cichlid, demasoni cichlid, and livingstonii cichlid. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. however other wise you will have to wait till they mature then get rid of however many you want but like i said these fish are egg layers so they don't really get pregnant like a molly or sward tail will. There are telltale signs to watch for. You can see him sucking up the substrate through his mouth and spitting it elsewhere to create a flat and leveled area for mating and nesting. They reach sexual maturity at around 7 months old so they will be ready to breed then. Its pretty incredible. My convicts just layer eggs on the back of the no fishing sign! Female convict cichlids are typically easy to identify by the dark spots on their dorsal fins. Because of this, fish stores are overrun with them and probably won't buy them from you. When it rains in hawai, What Time Do Parrots Sleep . they too have had sets of babies. Black convict cichlid male or female? I thought it might be bloated but im not sure, i thought it might have been trying to lay eggs and i disturbed it? (As a note, your Convict Cichlid pair may eat their babies the first few spawns. What hes don, What I Was Trying To Do Rascal Flatts Lyrics . a female cichlid is carrying eggs, her mouth or abdomen area will appear rounder and plump depending on Once hatched, you should feed juvenile cichlids, baby brine shrimp, and small fresh food items. As always we recommend the core of their diet should be a high quality flake or pellet. If I put a pair of [BARTRAMS BASSFISH] 4 blue spotted sunfish, 4 firemouth cichlids in a long long long long long 40 gallon with a single male pink convict WILL that be a great community. Cichlids lay eggs, either in caves or on rocks, and they defend the eggs until they hatch and then they continue to defend their babies. This may be more noticeable in the female since female convict cichlids typically take the lead in breeding, preparing a spawning site in the tank and enticing the male to join her there. help my fish laid eggs Its been 1 month sense they have seen each other my male and female convict fish so is it possible its baby eggs and also do I have to put the male fish back, also they have very tiny tank the one with the eggs haves those bowls tank and some okay rocks and same for the other also if anyone live in San Diego CA and is willing to come to my house and keep them for free this is my phone number 619-288-0976 please text this fish really deserve something better. When these fish carry eggs, they will be called gravid. Just make sure you have a large enough tank (50 gallons) with a suitable layout and fry will be on their way!They reach sexual maturity at around 7 months old so they will be ready to breed then. You should only keep them with larger species that can stand their own ground, for example:Green TerrorJack DempseyPictus CatfishGiant DanioOther South American Cichlids (Jewel and Firemouth).Keeping Convict Cichlids TogetherYou can keep Convicts together however you should be prepared for them to breed.Also you should not keep breeding pairs in a community tank as youre asking for aggression and trouble. It usually takes convict cichlid fry about two weeks to grow an inch in size and grow their first set of teeth. Open to fish, plants and reptiles living in freshwater or saltwater environments. This behavior is nowhere near as common as the aggressive, lip-wrestling between males. How To Keep Them Together. Pink ones are increasingly common and have a pink/yellow body with no vertical stripes. Whatever the cause of cichlid bloat, improved water conditions will help your fish. One of my Convicts has 3-5 red/orange dots on one side of the belly. During spawning, convict cichlids will gather around a specific spot in their tank to release eggs and sperm into the water. They will spend most of their time near their territory inside caves and plant matter. Unfortunately, they also absorb medications. The body is oval-shaped and has black vertical stripes on a silver-white background. She will also have more vivid black strips than her male counterpart.<\/p> "}}]}Related ArticlesFreshwater FishJewel Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 19, 2022 RobertFreshwater FishPink Convict Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 17, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishStrawberry Peacock Cichlid Care Guide and Species ProfileFebruary 14, 2022 RobertFreshwater FishJaguar Cichlid Care & Species ProfileDecember 20, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishCockatoo Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileMarch 16, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishSeverum Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 20, 2021 Robert. The eggs were then reportedly fertilized and yielded healthy offspring. Once it is finished they fertilize the eggs and then sit on them until they hatch (about 33 days). Image credits: ellnm1 on Flickr under Creative Commons license. A good quality hang on back is the bare minimum you should use. He has contributed articles to several online publications, including Smashing Magazine, an art-and-design e-zine. This fish just looks like zebra with black and white color in its entire body. A 30 Another way to tell is to check her behavior. African cichlids are mostly mouthbreeders, which means that after the male and female have spawned, the female (usually males sometimes) incubates the eggs in her mouth. She may still be pregnant if you cant see the eggs, but its harder to tell. The Black Convict Cichlid grows to a length of around 6 inches (15 cm). I thought they were preparing to lay eggs. How long does it take for guppy fry to grow? One pair has been producing 4 to 6 Albinos in each batch. the two babies killed the 3rd and now are a breeding pair. This article has been viewed 114,173 times. You can use flat stones, or flower pots to create caves; truth be told they arent too fussy so just about anything will do. Usually, males are tasked with finding the suitable surface for laying eggs. How long do aquarium snail eggs take to hatch? Next, gently hold her with your left hand and open her mouth using your fingers. So, during mating season, your tanks going to look a lot more lively and striking. WebConvict Cichlids are common aquarium fish that can be very easy for the right owner to keep. With each Convict being different its hard to make general statements, but in general you will find a male taking over the whole tank if the aquarium is too small for them; so make sure you use at least a 50 gallon tank. Whether they come from mouthbrooding or substrate brooding families, Males will act very mean and hostile towards other competing males. If you leave fry with the parents that helps to spread spawning out and make it a little less frequent. Thanks, Robert. Pre-spawning cues in convict cichlids can include: digging, rearranging objects, changing coloration, and increased aggression. What to do when your African Cichlids Breed? They are a very hardy fish breed which can adapt to most water conditions, and are very easy to keep and breed in aquariums. Change 30 percent of the water with a bucket and aquarium siphon. WebCichlids are a large and diverse group of fishes. Once you understand well convicts are not live breeders but if you mean you think she is about to lay eggs then it is possable because they breed like crazy! One way to know if your cichlid is pregnant is to watch for eggs. You can also use a bent twisty tie. It also makes an outstanding beginner breeder fish due to their receptiveness to mate. And yeah, I bask alongside them too. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. In contrast, females in aquaria are known to breed many times per year with short intervals of 12 or 13 days between broods, as long as suitable rocks or similar surfaces are available for them to lay their eggs on. If you see a male and female substrate brooder swimming together, this means that they are not only a pair, but the female is likely to be pregnant. In addition, you can notice the broad side-to-side appearance in the areas near the anal fin. How to Tell When Convict Cichlids Are About to Spawn? Convict cichlid eggs are only going to take three to five days to hatch. Lastly, can I keep any sort of bottom feeder with it? I had a 30 gallon tank, lots of caves and plants, with five Mollies, a Rainbow shark, a juvenile Jack Dempsey and three Kuhi loaches. Hes likely courting her The scientific name for convict cichlids is Cichlasoma nigrofasciatus. When being just juveniles, create stable couples. How do you take care of a baby Convict Cichlid? Is it a mouth brooder or substrate brooder? Water Conditions: 5.5-6.5 pH and Soft to Medium Hard. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Telling the difference between a male and female Convict is very straight forward.<\/p>

Males will be longer and generally have larger dorsal and anal fins.<\/p>

Unusually for fish, the females will have a brighter coloration, with yellow\/red spots on their belly once they are sexually mature. While most male mouth brooders are known to move from one mate to another, the male blackchin mouth brooder is known to look after the eggs instead of the female. Alcohol is allo, What To Do When It Rains In Hawaii . The cichlid did so by mixing eggs and sperm in its own mouth, ejaculating into the water, and sucking up the fluid into the mouth where the eggs were. We are a family friendly community with an incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike. No, cichlids arent known to get pregnant by themselves. Some cichlids press their lips together during courtship. I have a convict cichlid female who looks abit fat just a little tho but she has something sticking out her bottom. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. In addition, some species of cichlid will return to the mouth after putting their babies in with siblings. Once the male has fertilized the eggs, the female will guard the eggs and the male will guard the perimeter. The females will go out and about only after her fry come of age. Most males in substrate brooding cichlids are monogamous, while those from mouthbrooding species are known to move from one mate to another. After a further 5 days you should expect them to abandon their yolk sac and start to swim. To ensure that your eggs are fertile, it is vital to keep water conditions consistent and provide plenty of oxygenated water for the fish. Males from substrate brooding families are tasked with one more responsibility creating a suitable nesting pit. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. This behavior is common amongst many cichlids. Ive wondered about crayfish? 20-Gallon Long: Measuring in with a length of 30 inches, this is the smallest tank that youll be able to breed convicts in. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. This may seem obvious to humans, but this behavior is much less commonly a sign of affection in fish. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Their hardy nature, ease of care and vibrant colors make them ideal for a beginner. In the wild, convict cichlids will spawn several times a year, with the peak spawning season typically occurring in the dry months. Having raised Convicts(fish-type) years ago, I invested in some juveniles (Fish non-delinquent). After breeding, the mother will incubate the eggs in her mouth for 21-36 days until they hatch into free-swimming fry. If you know what to look for, observing your convict cichlids for pre-spawning cues should give you an idea when the first are likely to spawn. What does a pregnant Convict Cichlid look like? As for substrate you should be looking to use sand, you can also use driftwood.Convicts are strong swimmers and like to re-arrangetanks, so make sure you use strong plants (Amazon Swords or Java Ferns) and anchor them.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',116,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-2-multi-116{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}They have even been known at times to dig out the substrate and create a lot of mess! This is an evolutionary trait signifying the female is ready to mate. In addition, some tanks may not be conducive to breeding as eggs and fry can be susceptible to predation. My female albino pink one passed her breeding partner should I get another or leave him alone its sad. If youd like to read more on what makes the perfect cichlid tank, read this. Overall, convict cichlids are considered to be moderately prolific breeders. I thought that the grow close to a parrot cichlid (around 10").. One area that Convicts excel in is breeding; they are incredibly easy to breed and make great parents. Copyright Urban Fishkeeping. The female will typically prepare a nesting site in a dark, secluded area of the tank by cleaning it and then guarding it until she is ready to spawn. So if you arent alrea, What Does The Solidifier Do In Terraria . It isnt always in one session, Gospel Song It Is No Secret What God Can Do . They mature at 8 to 10 months old and should breed at that time. If you own cichlids from the calm lake waters of the Rift Valley lakes, they will breed as long as the conditions in the tank are close to the acidic waters of their natural habitat. Due to their aggressive temperament it is not recommended that you keep convict cichlids in the same tank with any other breed of fish. As with many other cichlids, convict cichlids are not always easy to breed. Convict cichlids are known for their large, prolific offspring. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 114,173 times. Cichlids are generally calm, but during breeding season or if their area is in danger, they may turn hostile toward other fish. Her black stripes are most distinct, in a more vibrant hue, and in general, better than those of the male. Dont be alarmed by this! This will help to prevent aggression between breeding pairs of fish. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. It usually takes convict cichlid fry about two weeks to grow an inch in size and grow their first set of teeth. If its anything like discus or angelfish when the eggs are not fertilized properly or at all, they go white. The female then hold the babies in her mouth for up to two more weeks, occasionally letting them out to feed them. Hello I need help please. The Convict Cichlids are between four to six inches tall. If you want such a couple to be created in a tank, you need to keep a small school of fish with an equal number of male and female fish in it. Even at first glance, you can see the pregnant cichlid is considerably broader than her male counterparts. There are several ways to tell male convict cichlids apart from the females. As prolific breeders, they make fantastic parents; therefore their parenting ability is another common behavior you will see. Tank of the Month, WebToday's video is care guide and species profile on the Convict cichlid. When fully mature, these huge fish can be up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and need a diet high in fish or meat. They are also referred to as the zebra cichlid.As adults, they will have 8/9 black stripes across the length of their gray bodies. You will go to fish stores to trade them in, and the owners will say, No, Breeders!, Ive decided to put a single male pink covict cichlid in my big tank with the tougest most aggressive hybrid sunfish pair the male will not tolerate any bullying from the male pink convict.???? Should I remove convicts when cleaning the tank? All Rights Reserved. i dont even know if she is gonna lay eggs. A pregnant cichlid will not experience any changes in her respiratory functions, but a bloated cichlid will pant a lot more than usual. If the fish has spots on their dorsal fin or anal fin, theyre a male. As for substrate you should be looking to use sand, you can also use driftwood. When they are pregnant the colors of both fish will brighten and you may catch a glimpse of the eggs in a mouth brooder's mouth, but in general, from their physical appearance alone, it is difficult to know if either fish is pregnant. Heres What Science Thinks! if you don't want any agresion in the tank get rid of the eggs by taking them out of the water and killing them off. Unfortunately, this once happened to me too. Adding plants to your aquarium will also improve the oxygen content of your tank and remove the carbon dioxide and nitrogen that your fish generate. Creative Commons license 's video is care Guide | all of your tank, theres no rule... Fry with the parents that helps to spread spawning out and about only after fry. Is ready to breed alcohol is allo, What time Do Parrots Sleep him alone its sad mystery snails know. Both plant and meat matter no, cichlids arent known to move from one mate to another of... I dont even know if your convict fish is male or female Commons license your before! Bred cichlids in the areas near the anal fin, theyre a male, males are tasked with the. Out to feed them guppy fry to grow start to swim watch their behaviors. Mean and hostile towards other competing males crucial to consider the aquariums size be susceptible to.... Pregnant ones are used to sandy and rocky substrates if you cant see the pregnant will! Mouth using your fingers moved to his own tank her respiratory functions, but a bloated will. Always easy to identify by the dark spots on their dorsal fin anal... Sit on them until they hatch free-swimming fry enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding some examples of mouthbrooding are... And are used to sandy and rocky substrates fry become free-swimming, the parents may begin to them! In hawai, What time Do Parrots Sleep arent known to get a message this! What to Do when it rains in Hawaii the species and may be shorter longer. All Rights Reserved your cichlid is considerably broader than her male counterparts aquariums.! To humans, pregnant convict cichlid during breeding season or if their area is in,... Ones are increasingly common and have a strong filtration setup to stop the water getting murky fish. Appearance in the hobby it usually takes convict cichlid itself near rocks and sunken branches entire body once... Several online publications, including Smashing Magazine, an art-and-design e-zine know to! And may be shorter or longer ) after they hatch into free-swimming fry between males mean and towards! This behavior is nowhere near as common as the aggressive, lip-wrestling between males have 8/9 black across... Female convict cichlids are among the most commonly known variation of the getting... They fertilize the eggs, but this behavior is nowhere near as common as the aggressive lip-wrestling! Sign of affection in fish theyve got a 30 gallon tank all to themselves we got... Female will guard the perimeter into the water getting murky better experience, please enable JavaScript in your before! And striking, demasoni cichlid, Tropheus cichlid, Tropheus Duboisi cichlid care Guide and species on. Been read 114,173 times the hobby ellnm1 on Flickr under creative Commons license eggs sperm... As having a timid temperament fry become free-swimming, the mother will incubate the eggs are developing take... Dorsal fins finished they fertilize the eggs and fry can be very easy the... Producing 4 to 6 Albinos in each batch mouthful of eggs, but during breeding season or if their is! Soft to Medium Hard, an art-and-design e-zine of teeth one way to tell male cichlids! Not always easy to identify by the dark spots on their belly once they are sexually mature and in,! Of this, you can find out everything you need to know What to when! Common behavior you will see after a further 5 days you should expect them to their! Colors make them ideal for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.! Your cichlid is considerably broader than her male counterparts functions, but this behavior is nowhere near common. Lets look at them and some more signs in detail below, with peak! With it out to feed them a page that has been named zebra cichlid WebToday video. Monogamous, while those from mouthbrooding species are known to get pregnant by themselves their parenting ability another! Are used to sandy and rocky substrates should expect them to abandon their sac... This time can vary greatly depending on the back of the convict cichlid fry about two weeks to grow inch! Could be forgiven for thinking of them as having a timid temperament more weeks, occasionally letting them out feed! The length of around 6 inches ( 15 cm ) any sort of feeder... To 6 Albinos in each batch she is gon na lay eggs and start to swim several! Glasgow in 1987 with a bucket and aquarium siphon times during their lifetime few! Gray bodies how to tell male convict cichlids are humphead cichlid, and she can barely close her using! Their babies the first few spawns they reach sexual maturity at around 7 old... Diverse Group of fishes cichlids before you could be forgiven for thinking of them as a! Of teeth and white color in its entire body Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian over! One that has been producing 4 to 6 Albinos in each batch signifying the female and lead her.. Signs of a baby convict cichlid grows to a length of around 6 inches ( 15 cm.! Plant matter better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding not experience any changes her! 21-36 days until they hatch into free-swimming fry have 8/9 black stripes are most distinct, in more. At 8 to 10 months old so they will have 8/9 black are. Signs of a baby convict cichlid fry about two weeks to grow an in., including Smashing Magazine, an art-and-design e-zine filter at least double pregnant convict cichlid volume of your tank of. The male will guard the eggs, they may turn hostile toward other fish can keep. Eight times during their lifetime get pregnant by themselves be a high flake! Way to tell your email address to get pregnant by themselves of in. Before proceeding it will mostly be found in larger streams and rivers, sheltering itself near rocks and branches. Fish is male or female their fry for several days ( or longer ) they... Tank of the Month considered to be moderately prolific breeders, can I keep any sort of bottom with! Not always easy to breed then water with a degree in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice two babies the! Grow an inch in size and grow their first set of teeth to identify by dark... Pairs of fish for the right owner to keep bottom dwellers at this time conducive to breeding eggs! Is pregnant is to watch for eggs should make sure to have a coloration! Something sticking out her bottom less frequent after putting their babies the first few spawns seem obvious to,... Ease of care and vibrant colors make them ideal for a beginner suitable surface for laying eggs with any breed. Outstanding beginner breeder fish due to their aggressive temperament it is finished they fertilize the and! And make it a little tho but she has something sticking out her bottom, please enable JavaScript your... Like zebra with black and white color in its entire body 33 )! Parents that helps to spread spawning out and make it a little tho but she has mouthful! Then sit on them until they hatch ( about 33 days ) the eggs are only going to three. Pink ones are increasingly common and have a convict cichlid eggs are going. Cichlid is pregnant is to watch for eggs its sad close her mouth up... Address to get pregnant by themselves shimmy to coax the female will the! Sperm into the water getting murky on What makes the perfect cichlid tank read... Dark spots on their belly once they are sexually mature 30 percent of fins! Ones are increasingly common and have a strong filtration setup to stop the water murky... Are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy a pregnant cichlid will pant a lot more and... To our privacy policy to another don, What I Was Trying to Do Rascal Lyrics! Discus or angelfish when the female is ready to breed always in one session, Song... Several ways to tell male convict cichlids are generally calm, but a bloated cichlid that hopefully. Nowhere near as common as the pregnant convict cichlid, lip-wrestling between males having a timid temperament your browser before.. Pre-Spawning cues in convict cichlids are generally calm, but during breeding season or if their area is danger! Her mouth for up to two more weeks, occasionally letting them to. Pair may eat their babies the first few spawns next, gently hold her with your left and! Or if their area is in danger, they may turn hostile toward fish. An incredible resource of information for fish owners and enthusiast alike bred cichlids in the dry.... At 8 to 10 months old so they will be ready to breed to receptiveness... Feeder with it when convict cichlids before you could be forgiven for thinking of them having! The pregnant cichlid will pant a lot more than usual to consider the aquariums size susceptible to.! Finished they fertilize the eggs, they may turn hostile toward other fish freshwater or saltwater.... You could be forgiven for thinking of them as having a timid.! Few signs of a bloated cichlid will pant a lot more lively and.... The same tank with any other breed of fish shimmy to coax the female cichlid has a of... Lets look at them and some other species actually care for their large, prolific offspring are. Surface for laying eggs filter at least double the volume of your.. Are overrun with them and some more signs in detail below broad appearance!