Against all odds!

[Azedenkae]

My Convicts spawned!

Okay so that's not anything extraordinary in and of itself, but when considering that the pair is in a community tank, with 18 other fish (13 of which are cichlids), I find it quite amazing that they still manage to defend their territory against all of these fish (well minus one Super Green Texas, it's a shy fish that huddles in the corner all the time and is pretty much ignored by everything).

I found all of my cichlids (minus the SGT) huddled together on one side of the tank today, and went to check on the Convicts to see free swimming fry being protected by them. None of the others can even come close, not the aggressive Ellioti nor the Pink Firemouth. The Red Forest Jewels and Blue Cobalt runs away with their tails between their legs as well. Both of the Convicts are about 7.5cm in length, and these other fish are mostly all larger.

So yeah, I do know Convicts are great parents, but did not think they were this great. XD Warding off so many larger cichlids easily.

[Supercobwe]

You still need to take the fry out later on because fry grow bigger and then wonder off parents protection will get eaten, both parents can't protect too many of them if they all swim difference directions.

[DeadFishFloating]

Yep they certainly punch above their weight.

I have seen them beat up red devils and dovii before, to defend their fry!

[Azedenkae]

Aye, will definitely have to take the fries out if I decide to keep them. Well, I already took three out, just for fun, but there's still heaps in there.

And yeah, they are starting to move all over the tank now, though still in a large group, though that just means that the parents have to move along. So now instead of huddling in one side, the other cichlids huddle to both sides and the Convicts are somewhere near the center.