Whoever said fish don’t have personalities never met a Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata).
Yes, yes, we all know that Cichlids have a reputation for their aggressive nature, and rightly so for the most part. But that doesn’t mean they have to be excluded from some more experienced keepers tank communities.
They practically sparkle with entertaining behavior and will most certainly provide hours of entertaining observation for both owner and casual visitor. Shy and retiring, they are not!
These tropical freshwater fish are naturally found in Central America around Guatemala and Honduras.
They are local to slow-moving river waters with a degree of current and pond formations with rocky bottoms.
In the trade, they can also be identified as Zebra Cichlids, Banded Cichlids, Albino Convicts, Pink Convict Cichlids, and Black Convict Cichlids.
Let’s check out why they might be a great addition to your tank if you have the right combinations in place to welcome one or two.
Convict Cichlid Behavior
Ah, the Cichlid family. So well known, so well-liked, and so aggressive under the right circumstances.
In a lot of cases, when we say this about other Cichlids, it’s a question of, “But are they REALLY that aggressive all the time?” And in a lot of cases, it’s no.
But for this particular species of Cichlid, the Convict deserves the reputation. Making us wonder, is called the Convict because it’s always stirring up trouble and should be relegated to solitary? Or is it because it just looks like it’s wearing a prison suit? More on this in a moment.
If the fish are peaceful in the tank, it won’t matter to a Convict. They will chase and harass them regardless. And they really don’t care if they are the smallest fish in the tank; this behavior will continue relentlessly.
One Convict can live on its own, but at most, you would allow a pair and no more than that.
Convicts can live happily alongside other Cichlids who have the same level of feistiness in their blood.
Despite their aggressive nature, they do like to hide when the mood takes them. The larger the tank you have, the less territorial they will be. You’ll find that these fish like their privacy too.
Like typical Cichlids, they are busy, active swimmers, and they prefer to hang around the middle strata of your tank. Unless that is, they are actively digging into the substrate, wreaking havoc on your live plant roots, and rearranging the decor to their satisfaction!
Many owners report that these fish like to move things around. It can be funny to watch because they can get a little OCD. You can move something on purpose only to find it right back where it was originally, thanks to these fish having some very specific ideas about home decor.
Convict Cichlid Lifespan
If you cater to the needs of your Convict Cichlid, you could expect them to live for up to 8 – 10 years. This is a considerable amount of time, so a fair amount of commitment.
We will discuss more on tank requirements a little later in this article.
Convict Cichlid Appearance
Convict Cichlids are quite flashy-looking fish for their size. Featuring a greyish-blue body with usually around 8 broad black vertical bars that are evenly spread along the body length, they do resemble a fish in a prison uniform.
While there are variations in colors available, this is the classic Convict and the most common.
They have a typical Cichlid shape long body that is fairly slim in build. Their dorsal and ventral fins run most of the length of the body like sails, and they have a classic gently rounding caudal fin.
Their eyes are orange-red, and they have well-developed pectoral fins.
At maturity, they reach about 6 inches in length for males and 4.5 inches for females. The females have more striking color patterns than the males, which is atypical.
Their eye-catching appearance makes these fish really popular for hobbyists and a great introductory Cichlid because of their hardy nature.
Convict Cichlid Habitat And Tank Requirements
These Cichlids aren’t too picky when it comes to tank decor; after all, they know best where they want things and won’t be shy about rearranging to their tastes.
With an environment in the wild that has some degree of current and water activity, you can have some more vibrant filtration setups. These fish love to swim and are strong too as a result of current conditioning.
Let’s look at some specifics that are needed to provide these bottom dwellers with a great quality of life that best suits them for optimum health.
Tank Conditions
Since they don’t ask a lot of their tank habitat requirements, we will suggest what works best and is probably easiest.
Sand is what you are looking for in a substrate. Since these fish will root around with their snouts and dig, you want an easy life and no abrasions from this activity.
Adding in plenty of rocky formations and driftwood alongside your plant life and you’ll pretty much be set.
In terms of plants, you’ll need sturdy types like Amazon Swords, Hornwort, or Java Fern that have some additional anchoring in place for these nosey fish. Floating species make a less destructive alternative so consider those in your landscape if the thought of replanting regularly fills you with despair!
Shelter in the form of caves and driftwood work well to keep them feeling secure despite their reputation. All fish need somewhere to have their me-time.
Strong filtration like a HOB (hang-on-back) that will mimic some degree of current and water action is best, and add air stones or curtains if you think they might enjoy that if your current isn’t strong enough.
A heater should be encouraged as you will want steady parameters, and a gravel vacuum might be in order as you may need to clean up the mess these fish make in their eagerness to muck about in the substrate.
Water changes will need to be weekly and at least 25% changed over.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- pH of 6.0 – 8.0
- Water hardness between 10 – 15 dGH
- Temperature between 70 – 82ºF (21 – 28ºC)
- Lighting should be standard
Tank Size
The minimum tank size for a Convict Cichlid pair is 40 gallons.
Choosing a longer tank size is best to keep a strong current and flow.
However, 50 gallons and up should be the goal if you plan on breeding them.
Choosing Tank Mates For Convict Cichlids
When it comes to finding tank mates for your Convict Cichlid, you need to make some careful considerations.
Of course, you need fish that share similar water parameters, but you should avoid anything that is peaceful and easily spooked or bullied that won’t stand up for itself, which rules out quite a few species in the freshwater world.
One Convict on its own in a community works, or a male and female breeding pair KEPT SEPARATELY.
We emphasize this because the aggression will skyrocket in a community tank with a breeding pair of Convict firecrackers. They will become the Bonnie and Clyde of your tank and live up to their felon namesakes. Nobody needs the added headache!
Smaller fish can be paired in a community tank, but they need to be fast and evasive by trade.
Some tank mate pairings that really would work well include:
- Oscar Fish
- Clown Loaches
- Silver Dollar Fish
- Jack Dempsey Fish
- Pictus Catfish
- Mollies
- Barbs
- Green Terrors
- Cichlids of these varieties –– Firemouth, Texas, African Jewel, Jewel, Juvenile Flowerhorn, Rainbow, Juvenile Red Devil, and T-Bar
How To Feed Convict Cichlids
Cichlids are known to be voracious eaters, and they sure aren’t fussy either.
Cichlid pellets are a great base to start with. Add in other live and frozen proteins such as Shrimp, Bloodworms, insect larvae, beef heart, other worms, and even maggots.
You should include blanched vegetables from time to time, such as lettuce or zucchini. Other plant matter like algae wafers and spirulina will also help encourage more vibrant coloring on your Convicts.
Convict Cichlid Common Health Issues
Most freshwater fish are susceptible to Ich (White Spot Disease), which, as the name implies, is easily distinguished by white spots on the body due to a parasitic infection.
Ich is treatable when caught early and suitably medicated. If left untreated, Ich is usually fatal.
Fin Rot is another bacterial infection that affects their fins, just as the name implies. They may appear to disintegrate, and it is highly contagious through physical contact. If you suspect your fish has it, it’s important to quarantine it.
Fin Rot is commonly associated with poor water conditions, overcrowding, and stress which is due to both of the aforementioned issues.
Swim bladder issues can occur and are usually spotted when the fish can’t stay afloat and sink to the substrate.
A lot of these issues are to do with water conditions or poor nutrition. Avoid grains for Cichlids and ensure they are getting enough fiber to clear out their digestive tracts.
These issues can be minimized with a strict water cleaning and change schedule along with regular checking of your water parameters. Remember, your tank is a living biome, and it isn’t just fish that are living inside it.
How To Breed Convict Cichlid
If you have decided to keep a pair of Convict Cichlids, your very own aforementioned Bonnie and Clyde, then chances are they will reproduce whether you want them to or not. For these fish, it’s just how nature intended.
We already know that females are markedly smaller than males and more vibrantly colored, so sexing the fish should be easy enough. Males also develop a bump on their heads as they mature, so that’s another clear marker.
The final way to know who is that females develop a red abdomen at sexual maturity. Easy to spot.
If you don’t already keep your pair along in a tank and have them in a community, you’ll need to separate them into a breeding tank. Preferable one that has a flower pot on its side for decor. Apparently, they are very keen on this type of breeding spot, so furnish it with some plant life and smooth gravel, and it’s the perfect nursery.
Increase the water temperature to encourage spawning and do 20% water changes since they breed during the rainy season in the wild.
Once eggs are laid successfully, these fish are great parents. Don’t let their Bonnie and Clyde nicknames fool you. Fry will hatch in 3 – 4 days, but the fry won’t free-swim for another week. In the meantime, they will be moving around attached to their egg sacs growing.
The parents may pick them up in their mouths and move them around the tank, but that’s just like any parent taking a baby for a stroll in the pram. Occasionally new parents will eat the fry, but that is normal as they learn how to parent.
Once the fry is free-swimming, you should move the male from the tank and leave the mother with them as he can get aggressive.
Are Convict Cichlids A Good Idea For Your Aquarium?
For such a dark moniker like ‘Convict’ Cichlid, you would expect them to be total thugs looting and rooting around your aquarium.
While some of that may be true (thuggish behavior and rooting up plants), they remain delightful fish to watch and learn from. Ever active and investigative, you never quite know what they’re up to, which is what makes them so fascinating to watch.
They make a strong visual presence in the tank and have showy markings that really catch the light and make them appealing even in a group setting of more colorful fish.
If you feel like you want to have your own little tank called Alcatraz, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Convicts.
