Convict cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Parameter dashboard
24-28 °C
6-8
15 cm
5 years
Care guide
The convict cichlid is one of the most ubiquitous and adaptable fish in the aquarium hobby. Widely distributed across Central America from Guatemala to Panama, it inhabits a remarkable variety of environments from flowing rivers to ponds and lakes, always staying close to cover. This hardiness and ease of breeding make it a popular choice, but it is not a community fish. Convicts are territorial year round and turn violent while breeding, taking on fish several times their size.
A single pair requires a tank with base dimensions of at least 90cm x 30cm (approximately 81 litres), furnished with rocks, bogwood, and flowerpot caves to provide hiding spots and potential spawning sites. The fish are avid diggers and may uproot plants, so robust or floating vegetation is recommended. They thrive across a wide temperature range but 24-28°C is ideal for long-term care, with pH 6.0-8.0 and moderately hard water on the alkaline side.
Diet is unfussy. Dried cichlid pellets and flakes, with occasional frozen or live food, keep them in condition. Breeding is straightforward: a compatible pair will spawn readily, with the female tending eggs while the male patrols the territory aggressively. Fry hatch in 3-4 days and are fiercely guarded for several weeks. The convict is an excellent choice for the aquarist interested in observing natural cichlid parental behaviour, but requires a species-only setup or very robust tankmates.
Sources
- seriouslyfish.com — https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/amatitlania-nigrofasciata/
- fishbase.se — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amatitlania-nigrofasciata.html
Further reading on identification and aquarium care.
Tankmate compatibility (sample)
Pairwise screening against other species in the database (prioritizing the same family when data is available).
Review first (12)
Caution or avoid from automated rules — confirm before mixing.
| Species | Assessment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue acara Andinoacara pulcher Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Chessboard cichlid Dicrossus filamentosus Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Fasciatus Shell Dweller Altolamprologus fasciatus Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Gold Cap Caudopunctatus Neolamprologus caudopunctatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Hump-head Cyrtocara moorii Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Humphead cichlid Cyphotilapia frontosa Caution | Caution | Species with non-overlapping pH ranges may not thrive together · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Jack Dempsey Rocio octofasciata Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Red Spotted Severum Heros efasciatus Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Redhump eartheater Geophagus steindachneri Caution | Caution | close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Redstriped eartheater Geophagus surinamensis Caution | Caution | Multiple territorial species in the same swim layer cause stress · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
| Umbrella cichlid Apistogramma borellii Caution | Caution | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space · one is boisterous and the other a much smaller peaceful fish sharing the same floor, where it can be intimidated and outcompeted at feeding time Open pair in Compare → |
| Green terror Andinoacara rivulatus Avoid | Avoid | Fish 2x+ larger may eat smaller tankmates · Species with non-overlapping temperature ranges cannot coexist · the two share only a narrow band of temperature, so one of them sits at the edge of its range · close relatives, and one of them is territorial, so both claim the same kind of space Open pair in Compare → |
Same rule engine as Compare. Not a substitute for observation, tank size, or acclimation.
Related species
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