Our new Convict Cichlids... personalities

[DavidBeoulve]

Last weekend I finally got the 38 gallon aquarium I had wanted for my family...


At first I thought I wanted African Cichlids, because they are hardy and beautiful. I spent $16 on chemicals to set the PH to 8.2 and a salt mixture for Africans, got home, set up the tank, let it sit, and read more about Cichlids. That's when I came across a website on Convict Cichlids.

Overnight, my wife (who is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) and I decided Convicts were the way to go as we read this website. While not as lustrious, their parenting and personality seemed to make up for it, on paper. The stupid fish store wouldn't take back the opened bottles, so I got a PH 7.0 bottle for $8 and a replacement tank (the first had a small ding in the glass) and set that up, with some bio-goo they said would start the biological ecosystem of the tank.

I have read online that you still need hardy fish, and there isn't any evidence I can find that this bio-stuff does anything.

24 hours later we got four Convict Cichlids, all a little less than 1" long. Here are some pictures of our babies...


We got the fish on Monday (April 1st, 2003) night.


PERSONALITIES:
Perhaps I'm your average moron, but I've seen distinguishable personalities in everything from yellow ratsnakes to box turtles and boa constrictors and fish. These little Convict Cichlids have more personality than any other captive fish I have seen; I thought the Koi I had when I was young were entrancing to watch (and they were); these little guys are amazing.


Bernard is named after the saint who started one of the few successful Crusades, and he thinks he owns the entire tank. He likes the pots, but will chase any of the others, anywhere.

Antonio/Antony is named after a saint who cared for animals (can you tell my lovely Latin lady is catholic? and is much less aggressive, and already taking a like to Rosa, who, when near, he will actually stand his ground against Bernard.

Bernard wanted Rosa too, but she wasn't interested in him. Rosa is your stereotypical pretty girl with little personality, near as I can tell.

Drita came with a nipped tail and a lot more orange around her belly than Rosa, both of whom have smaller fins than Bernard and Antony (hence, why we think, aside from the behavior, these are the correct sexes). Neither of the males are very interested in her, yet she's the champion small cockroach eater.

The bugs aren't poisoned around here, and boy do these guys like them; again, Drita is preternatural about picking them off and darting about until she's wolfed it down. (Is feeding them small bugs dangerous?)

They Learn!
It took my Koi two weeks to learn that when I whistled, it was feeding time. After three days, these little Convicts have figured it out... they are incredible learners and very alert.

Does anyone have any Cichlid personality stories to share? Convicts or other kinds. That's my story, and if you have the time, I would love any comments.