Breeding Convicts with a Jack Dempsey tankmate

Discussion in 'Breeding Fish' started by CodeSensei, Jul 15, 2015.

  1. CodeSenseiNew MemberMember

    I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 juvenile jack dempseys. Im thinking of buying a pair of black convicts for breeding purposes.

    Based on this article, it seems ok to have JD in the same tank as Convicts.

    My question is, once the fry are hatched, should I move all the fry and mother to a new breeder tank(which i dont have)? Or will the JD eat all the fry? Since the Convict parents will defend the fry, wondering if ok.

    Also, my tank is 20 inches high,,,,so concerned the fry wouldnt be able to swim that high.
  2. junebugFishlore LegendMember

    JDs need a significantly larger tank than that, particularly if you're housing more than one together.

    If you're trying to breed the convicts, the JDs will eat the fry anyway, and if the convict parents get in the way.... well JDs are plenty aggressive, and I wouldn't want to watch that fight.
  3. CodeSenseiNew MemberMember

    So sounds like I just need to buy a 20 GAL breeder tank and raise a few pairs of convicts there. I was hoping to not buy another tank.
  4. hampalongWell Known MemberMember

    You'll only fit one pair of Convicts in a 20g. As soon as the first pair forms they'll probably kill the others.
  5. chromedome52Fishlore VIPMember

    Actually, the danger would be the convicts attacking the juvie Dempseys. When guarding fry, they are fierce.

    And a 55 is plenty big enough for two Dempseys. While they can reach 10 inches, they rarely do so, and I would consider 6-7 inches the average length for adults. Given adequate cover and filtration, I would not foresee any problems.
  6. CodeSenseiNew MemberMember


    I agree with you.

    I still think I need to buy a breeder tank so the JD doesn't eat the fry.

    I heard convicts grow really fast. I want to grow the fry some bit and use most of them as feeder and then also grow some of them as full adults.

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