When a person goes to a LFS and gets about 4-7 convicts to form a pair, can we assume that the fish where most likely from the same spawn? Especially If they look similar for the most part? If this is the case, then I would assume that inbreeding would take place if a pair formed. I've googled the net with "convict inbreeding" and some sites report that fish like convicts can be inbreed 2-4 generations before physical deformities are evident. So my question is if inbreeding or paring off is really a bad idea?
Over 6 months ago I purchased a pair of jewel cichlids from a pet store that where getting ready to spawn in the store. They spawned in my 15gallon Hex tank several days after I bought them and the mother died. Shortly after I removed the father and I raised up the fry. 6 of the fry survived. Now I wake up this morning and I see a pair has formed from the 6 jewel cichlids defending fry! I have a 35gallon hex with 3/4 to half inch baby convict fry from my breeding pair along with a 55 gallon consisting of several dozen convict fry. Would it be a bad Idea for them to pair off at this point?
I was also told that fish should only breed when they are at maximum size. The reason being is that if they spawn too young that the fish will remain dwarfed at the maximum size their parents spawned them. Is this true or a bunch of BS?
Thanks
-Cosmic
Over 6 months ago I purchased a pair of jewel cichlids from a pet store that where getting ready to spawn in the store. They spawned in my 15gallon Hex tank several days after I bought them and the mother died. Shortly after I removed the father and I raised up the fry. 6 of the fry survived. Now I wake up this morning and I see a pair has formed from the 6 jewel cichlids defending fry! I have a 35gallon hex with 3/4 to half inch baby convict fry from my breeding pair along with a 55 gallon consisting of several dozen convict fry. Would it be a bad Idea for them to pair off at this point?
I was also told that fish should only breed when they are at maximum size. The reason being is that if they spawn too young that the fish will remain dwarfed at the maximum size their parents spawned them. Is this true or a bunch of BS?
Thanks
-Cosmic