I never really payed much attention to convicts before but I was looking around my LFS and noticed a tankful of convicts and the color on some of the belly's were amazing almost florescent pink. the fish were about 2 inches. The guy working said he couldn't sex them. I was wondering if 1 they could be sexed and 2 do the colors get better, worse or stay the same?
Convict Cichlid Question
- Thread starter jb-ny
- Start date
Very easy to sex - any with a pink or orange coloration are females as Betta Bob has pointed out. They can be sexed at a very early age. This does not mean they are sexually mature, just a means of sexing them.
The males are slightly larger.
I agree with excuzzzeme. They are quite easy to sex early on and I have had convicts as small as 2" produce viable fry. Other great attributes of convicts are their variability and personalities. It is like having fiesty, tempermental puppies. A tank full is always a dynamic and fun challenge!!
I'm there with excuzzzeme and RMorrow--I've actually seen females coloring beautifully at less than two inches when a group is living together. They'll mate and spawn; truly amazing little pups. The dude at the pet store sounds to be just working a job. Good luck!!!
re coloring: they are brightest when mating; when caring for young, they pretty much go back to neutral color
re coloring: they are brightest when mating; when caring for young, they pretty much go back to neutral color
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Having bred and raised black convicts (aka zebra convicts) as well as pink convicts (aka Congo Convicts), I have been able to sex some very early on. The orange/pink is not well defined on some and makes sexing harder. The coloration does not have to be just on the belly as I have had some with small patches high up on their flanks.
Black cons can and will mate with pink cons. Even then the coloration will be noticeable.
Black cons can and will mate with pink cons. Even then the coloration will be noticeable.