[RobD213]

A couple of questions.

Firstly is this possible or common?

My new con an old salvini seem to have today dug a pit and are guarding it together?

If so has anyone had this before? What do the fry look like?

I have always kept singles of each species to minimise the chance of breeding in my tank so this could cause chaos. Serves me right for just having to snap up the beautiful con I saw I suppose.

 

[xXGrEeNxTeRrOrXx]

Rob,

I have never seen or heard of a Convict/Salvini cross. Obviously convicts can (and do) cross with many things, but salvini... I don't know. It will certainly be interesting to see if they do infact spawn fertile eggs. Keep us updated. Pics?

 

[CiChLiD LoVeR128]

Yep its definately possible

And yep I have heard of it just haven't seen any pics of fry! What are the sexes of the Convict and Salvini? It does sound like they are getting ready or already did spawn. Have their colors changed?

 

[BlackShark11k]

The question is, really, is there anything convicts can't cross with :lol: I've heard of con x jag, con x JD, con x RD, and con x midas as well as con x other rocio's or whatever crazy genus they're in now :lol:

 

[gage]

*** also heard of con x Firemouth, Con x Texas, and Con x Carpintis :lol:

 

[chrispyweld]

Dude I'm not a big fan of hybrids but I may pay for shipping for some of those.

 

[RobD213]

Well as an update, they have continued to dig their pit, and are defending it fiercely. Its funny watching my oscar (10 inches) trying to investigate what they are doing and a 4 inch con and 3 inch sal flareing and defending it.

 

[gage]

are you sure they dont have eggs? even with convicts, i dont find they act like this until they are actually defending something,

 

[Hrafen]

I'm betting they have eggs in there. I am also betting the Oscar will soon be getting serious grief until he learns to be elsewhere. I am not a fan of hybrids, but you have two adults who on fry care are not going to take any prisoners, and can in all probability deal with the O.

 

[RobD213]

Well as an update, I had a rescape in the tank and added some pots and today have seen eggs in the pot that they have been guarding for days now. The con is guarding the entrance while the Salvini is fanning the eggs constantly.

This is my firts experience of breeding in this tank, as I said I had always tried to keep away from breeding pairs to avoid trouble but I stupidly decided to add the con :lol:

Anyway, any tips or what I should expect will be greatly appreciated, Ill get some pics up later on today.

Rob

 

[cole]

This is an interesting thread. My only advice would be to pull the male and let the female do her thing if you want be sure they have the best chances. I find the male cichlids are most likely to be the demise of young fry. I would expect if you removed him the female would be even more intent on safe gaurding the wrigglers.

I've also heard of con x Firemouth, Con x Texas, and Con x Carpintis :lol:

Thats interesting to hear. I have a female green texas (carpintis Escondido) thats about 4.5" who is desperatley trying to get the attention of my leucistic HRP I have in with her. She has turned into her breeding colors, is digging pits and is flaring gills swimming side by side the HRP.

My 4.5" tetracanthus is also courting my 6" female EBJD right now, but not being as cozy as the carpintis and HRP in the other tank.

I would echo the group and just say anything is possible with these Convicts, and surely most CAs would likely pair off with them.

Can't wait to see what you come up with Rob.

Good luck
:thumb:
Cole~

 

[RobD213]

I did consider removing the male, however I have no where for him to go at the moment and I think I'd rather let nature take its course. One option would be to use a divider as they have spawned at one far side of the tank?

It would be interesting to see what the fry are like and if I get any free swimming I may set up a small fry tank to grow some out. We'll see what happens anyway.

What should i be looking for in the eggs to see if they are ferlised etc. and how long before they are likely to htach.

 

[cole]

I would say they would hatch between 48 - 72 hours after being laid. Usually they will hatch quicker in warmer water. I get my fastest hatch times and fry growth rates in water between 82-84 degrees.

What you want to look for in the eggs is a creamy yellow color, with a light grey center. The light grey is the wriggler developing inside the egg. White is a sign of two different things. If its white from the inside out, its unfertilised. If its white on the outside, and kind of mossy looking, its fungus. Usually if the water quality is good and the female is fanning eggs, you wont have fungus issues. I would imagine with them being different species, you may likely find some that were not properly fertilised...but who knows really.

Very excited for you man.

Cole~

 

[RobD213]

Well the eggs are now a creamy colour with a ditinct dark spot in the middle, the Salvini is still constantly fanning them, the con guarding the entrance to the pot and no one else is going near them. A few went white but seem to have dropped of now. Quite exciting all in all.

Still to decide what to do if and when they hatch.

Opinions?

 

[illy-d]

grow em up a bit to see what they look like... probably better not to market them though.

 

[cage623]

Had a con and a sal that were together for a few years. On two different occations in the first year they tried to mate. The pair never produced viable fry though. So it sounds like you will have more luck than I had. Keep us updated.

 

[RobD213]

Todays Update.

I have no idea what is going on. The eggs are all gone, they were there this morning, gone when I got in from work. The sal is furiously guarding a pit but it is at the back behind a rok so I cant see what if anything is going on there, the con seems to be on lookout duty.

Anyone hazard a guess or want to tell me whats going on and what to expect next?

 

[bernie comeau]

The eggs have hatched and they have moved the wrigglers to the pit. In 3 -7 days, if all goes well, they will have free swimming fry which they will tend and continue to defend.

If something goes wrong, you'll probably be able to tell as their likely to blame each other :lol:, have a scrap and possibly break up, at least temporarily.

The sal is obviously the feamle and the con the male. Based on your description, they apear to be doing their jobs. Once the fry are free-swimming, the male may become just as involved in caring for the fry and the female may be just as involved in defending the outer perimeter of their territory. I do not beleive it would really be wise to remove the male in a community situation or setting.

Since they are young fish and their first time, bear in mind they may or may not hold on to fry for very long.

 

[Big Vine]

Good luck with the spawn...I'm very curious to see what a 'convini' looks like.
BV

 

[RobD213]

The sal is obviously the feamle and the con the male.

Definately, I should get some pics up of the parents at some point

I do not beleive it would really be wise to remove the male in a community situation or setting.

Hadnt planned on it and dont have the room anyway, ill just let them see what happens