Convict cichlid

Overview

The convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a small Central American cichlid found from Guatemala to Panama. Its name comes from the black vertical bars on a gray body, like an old-fashioned prison uniform. A pink or white form is also very common. Males reach about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm) and develop a steeper forehead; females are smaller and show orange on the belly.

It is one of the toughest cichlids around, tolerating a wide range of water conditions and forgiving beginner mistakes, which is why it is often suggested as a first cichlid. Its reputation as a brawler is well earned, though: when breeding it will take on fish many times its size.

Care and tank setup

For a pair, plan on a tank of about 40 gallons (150 L) with a 36-40 inch (90-100 cm) footprint. If you want other fish, floor space needs to grow a lot, because the pair will claim a big share of the bottom.

• Décor: sand or fine gravel, stacked rocks with caves and clay pots. Convicts dig constantly, so set rocks directly on the glass.
• Plants: they uproot them; use anubias and Java fern tied to driftwood, or floating plants.
• Water: undemanding; moderately hard tap water is fine, with good filtration and weekly changes.
• Tankmates: other Central American cichlids of similar or larger size and robust fish in roomy tanks. Never small, peaceful fish or shrimp.

The classic mistake is putting a pair in a community tank: as soon as they spawn, they harass everyone nonstop. Always keep the tank cycled, filtered and heated.

Feeding

Convicts eat almost anything. Use a quality cichlid pellet as the staple and add frozen foods (brine shrimp, bloodworms, krill) plus some plant matter such as spirulina flakes or blanched peas. Two small meals a day are plenty; don't overfeed, as they put on weight easily.

Breeding

Convicts are famous for breeding readily: a well-fed pair spawns in a cave or under a rock every few weeks. Both parents tend the eggs and then herd a cloud of fry around the tank. The challenge is not breeding them but rehoming dozens of babies, so think about that before keeping a pair.

Compatible tank mates

Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Convict cichlid. Calculated from the data in each profile.

Check the compatibility of your whole tank →

What not to keep it with

Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Convict cichlid, and why.

• Bristlenose pleco: incompatible temperaments
• Cherry barb: incompatible temperaments
• Common goldfish: incompatible temperaments
• Bronze cory: incompatible temperaments
• Panda cory: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
• Zebra danio: incompatible temperaments
• Discus: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
• Guppy: incompatible temperaments

Recommended equipment

What you need to keep the Convict cichlid healthy, checked against Amazon stock.