[BirdOPrey5]

As kids my friend/neighbor and I had freshwater tanks. We'd buy fish from the local Petland Discounts store... we had no idea that some fish didn't get along with others.

One day we each brought home what were labeled "Convicts (Black)" they had lines up and down like the old time convict uniforms but were basically dark grey on black.

I would later find out they were a type of African Ciichlid.

The first night was bad for both of us. I lost 1 fish, he lost 2 I think. When we looked up (in a real paper book, OMG no google in 1985) and found the aggressive nature of the fish I chose to bring mine back to the store... he kept his... In a week or two he only had this 1 fish left, and he kept it for many years, it just kept growing and growing, far bigger than any fish in my tank.

One time he had put it in a small bowl while cleaning the tank and was bringing the bowl downstairs... the fish jumped out of the bowl... and off the side of the stairs.