Need help with Dwarf Jellybean Cichlids...

[Dito]

I need help with my fish, I got a 20 gal High tank and the person gave me some fish with it wich include a Snail (which is pretty big), a pleco, a cory and about 13 Dwarf Jellybean Cichlids. I know there are to many fish in my tank and I want to give away (or sell) some but I wanted to know how many should I keep. Also what other kind of fish could I keep with them? I have a Red tailed Shark which needs a biger tank.

[Dito]

they might also be called dwarf jellybean convict, any info on them (behavior, needs, breeding (cause the guy who gave them to me only said that they breed a lot), etc.

you can see a pic of them at www.aquariumfish.net

[t_chelle16]

A 20 gallon (and espeically a 20 tall) is really a small tank. I would only keep one con and nothing else. Cons are extremely aggressive and breed like crazy. So if you keep two, you'll either end up with hundreds of babies that you'll need to find homes for or they will try to kill eachother. Plus 2 would be too much bioload for a 20 galon. The cory would do better in a group but cons are too aggressive to keep cories with so I'd find it a new home (or keep it, get some friends for it, and don't keep a con). With the pleco, it will depend on the type of pleco. If it's a common pleco it will get way too big for a 20 gallon. If it's one of the really fancy types of plecos, it probably won't be able to hold up against a con. If it's something like a bristlenose, it might work (but it and the con would really be pushing the limits of the tank).

-Chelle

[kc5gvn]

Hi Dito, I can't remember exactly how large Dwarf Jellybean Cichlids get at maturity. I believe it is around 6 inches. In any case Dwarf Jellybean Cichlids are a cross breed of Parrot Fish and Convicts. When they are young they are dipped into a solution that burns the slime coat from their bodies. Then they are dyed and dipped into another solution to help them grow back the slime coat that was burned away. A very painful process for them which most likely weakens them and gives them a short lifespan. Also the dye will eventually fade out. They are too big for a 20 gallon. If you end up with the tank space later on you might consider getting Parrot Fish that aren't dyed as opposed to getting the Dwarf Jellybean Cichlids.

[tski22]

What size tank would a normal parrot fish require? Not the dyed kind. -tl

[Dito]

Thanks, I guess I will try to find a home for them but the biggest ones I have are about 2 inches and none of them are dyed (they are all of the same white/pinkish color that they're supposed to be , I even have a few smaller ones that are about 1/2 inch).

I've been watching them and they seem to be leaving the cory and the pleco (which I have no idea what kind he/she is ) alone, but have been chasing the others around a bit.