Convicts fighting ruthlessly

sean2024

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2024
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Maine
Hi, i could use some help on my two convicts. My two convicts (female and male) have been fighting very very badly during meal times the past two days. I just gave them shrimp and they were fighting horribly over the brine shrimp, mostly the female attacking the male. They rolled around in the corner of the tank on top of gravel biting each other i mean literally 15+ times at one time. The female would not let the male leave the log, the male would keep getting chased and bit endlessly and he kept trying to hide in the log and the female chased him out biting him. The male also hid behind the log to and the female would not let him come out, this happened many times. Besides these times the male would hide and the female would go eat n as soon as the male came out to eat, she chased him and bit him badly. I never seen the male do this but was breathing very heavy at the top of the tank under the filter. This isnt even half of the fight, it was horrible. I know these guys are ruthless but is this normal? Lol. They are all torn up bad. Fins and tails frayed up badly. So its funny, the male always chased the female up until i rearranged their decor over a week ago, then once i eliminated their territories by doing that, they were lovey dovey for the past week, and as of two dayd ago the female is doing this. The male fights back at times but has been minimal. I have some pics here.

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Jexnell

Bronze Tier VIP
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Jul 17, 2017
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Female cichlids will fight the male before accepting him as a mate. If she can overpower him and make him run and hide then he is not accountable. If he overpowers her then he is fitting for a mate.

From the sounds of it, he is not fit in her eyes. If she is making him hide in the log and such. She probably won't accept him unless he puts his big boy britches on and man's up some.
 

Alexxxxsv14

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Nov 28, 2008
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anaheim/orange CA
Switch up the decor around that might help
 

Milingu

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Jul 19, 2015
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Hi, i could use some help on my two convicts. My two convicts (female and male) have been fighting very very badly during meal times the past two days. I just gave them shrimp and they were fighting horribly over the brine shrimp, mostly the female attacking the male.
Wouldn't be the first cichlid in spawning mood that confuses brine shrimp with fry. The male eats the "fry" and gets beating.
 

troublesum

Dovii
MFK Member
Dec 28, 2007
474
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Astoria, NY
I would try 1 more time to rearrange the decor if the female keeps it up i would then rehome or put a divider.
I have a female festae who took out 5 male festae she was 6-7in and they was 5-6in. Once the fish starts breathing hard at the top its pretty much a wrap for them
 

jjohnwm

Sausage Finger Spam Slayer
MFK Member
Mar 29, 2019
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Manitoba, Canada
Cichlid aggressiveness can progress from zero to dead fish in a very brief time. Remove one fish or separate with a divider first, then putz around on the internet asking opinions later...unless you want the problem to solve itself in a way that you won't appreciate.
 

sean2024

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2024
167
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Maine
Lovers tiff. Fat gold belly on the female means she’s getting ready to breed
They both bred a week and a half ago or so and ate the eggs. Isnt it to early to prepare to breed? 3-4 weeks or so before she breeds again right?
 

sean2024

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2024
167
92
31
31
Maine
Female cichlids will fight the male before accepting him as a mate. If she can overpower him and make him run and hide then he is not accountable. If he overpowers her then he is fitting for a mate.

From the sounds of it, he is not fit in her eyes. If she is making him hide in the log and such. She probably won't accept him unless he puts his big boy britches on and man's up some.
Even when she accepted him before and already bred about two weeks ago?
 
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