Not a MONSTER, but here's my Convict

[Hybridfish7]

Does anyone have any big convicts? The fish is so majestic once they are fully grown, but since they are such ridiculously slow growers, many people don't have the patience to keep them that long.

The nicoya variant is hellishly fast growing, I sent my friend 27 half inch fry in June, and they hit 4 inches by around October

 

[Community Disorganizer]

The nicoya variant is hellishly fast growing, I sent my friend 27 half inch fry in June, and they hit 4 inches by around October

What is that? I never heard of the nicoya variant?

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

Loved this little female

 

[Hybridfish7]

What is that? I never heard of the nicoya variant?

Locales in the hobby you may have heard of:
Rio cabuya
Rio piedras/bagaces
Rio tempisque
Rio lagarto

Cabuya:



All the locales in and around the nicoya peninsula look like this, large and fast growing, bulky yellow males with purple or orange fins, slate grey females with iridescent dots on their bellies instead of blotches. Depending on the locale, females can either have orange bellies and blue/green fins like most convicts or gold bellies and yellow/dark blue fins, as seen in the ones from cabuya or piedras/bagaces.

 

[Matth05]

Locales in the hobby you may have heard of:
Rio cabuya
Rio piedras/bagaces
Rio tempisque
Rio lagarto

Cabuya:
View attachment 1508118
View attachment 1508119
View attachment 1508120
All the locales in and around the nicoya peninsula look like this, large and fast growing, bulky yellow males with purple or orange fins, slate grey females with iridescent dots on their bellies instead of blotches. Depending on the locale, females can either have orange bellies and blue/green fins like most convicts or gold bellies and yellow/dark blue fins, as seen in the ones from cabuya or piedras/bagaces.

I found out about these not that long ago. They really are beautiful and the male looks like the cichlid equivalent of a miniature bulldog.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Not really an important piece of information, but I've always wondered why the nicoya variant's breeding dress looked different, and I've finally figured it out. The forehead stripe fully connects with the black on the operculum, making a little chin strap type thing.
Compare:

 

[GTkeeper]

My male has since been moved into a 75 with a group of swordtails. I’m constantly posting about him on my other thread and it’s hard not too, really has been an entertaining fish. I’d love to see how the OP’s male has developed over the past few months.
View attachment 1508074

He actually had swim bladder and I was unable to save him...really unfortunate as this was totally my favorite fish in the tank. I've kinda stopped looking and have been planting the aquarium until I figure out what I want to do with it.

 

[Matth05]

He actually had swim bladder and I was unable to save him...really unfortunate as this was totally my favorite fish in the tank. I've kinda stopped looking and have been planting the aquarium until I figure out what I want to do with it.

I’m really sorry for your loss. He was a gorgeous little fella.