A striking cichlid with bold black stripes over a grey or bluish base. Hardy, easy to care for, and famous for its fascinating breeding and parental behavior.
In Stock: Yes
Quantity in Stock: Few left
A striking cichlid with bold black stripes over a grey or bluish base. Hardy, easy to care for, and famous for its fascinating breeding and parental behavior.
Stocky, oval body shape with dark vertical stripes on a gray, blue, or leucistic base. Males grow larger, develop longer fins, and may show more intense coloration; females typically have orange coloration on bellies and dorsal fins.
8–10 years
Omnivorous; high-quality cichlid pellets or flakes as staple, supplemented with live/frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), blanched vegetables (peas, spinach), and occasional insect larvae.
Convict Cichlids are an ideal species for observing cichlid breeding and parental care. Their robust nature and active behavior add excitement to the aquarium, but their aggressive temperament means careful tank planning is needed.
Beginner to Intermediate; hardy but requires management of aggression and territorial disputes.
30 gallons for a pair
6.5 to 8.0
10–15 dGH
72–84°F (22–29°C)
4–6 inches (10–15 cm)
T-Bar cichlids, Honduran red points, Green Terrors, Salvini, Jack Dempsey (with caution), large catfish (plecostomus, pictus catfish), Giant Danios as dither fish.
Small community fish (tetras, guppies), slow or delicate species (angelfish), and fish easily stressed or bullied.
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Cichlidae
Central America: Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador
Territorial and aggressive, especially during breeding. Can be kept with robust cichlids or large catfish in big tanks, best as pairs or in species tanks.
Feed 1–2 times daily. Offer variety for best coloration and health. Do not overfeed to avoid water quality issues.
Substrate spawner; forms monogamous pair bonds. Both parents protect eggs and fry, which are laid on rocks or inside caves.
No special conditioning required; pairs lay up to 200-300 eggs on rocks or inside caves. Eggs hatch in 2-3 days; parents fan and move larvae to pre-dug pits, guarding until fry are free-swimming. Fry should be fed infusoria, baby brine shrimp, or powdered flake.
pH: 6.5–8.0, Temperature: 72–84°F (22–29°C), Hardness: 10–15 dGH, Nitrate: <30 ppm
Ich, fin rot, internal parasites, and hole-in-the-head disease. Avoid overfeeding and maintain clean water.
Highly territorial and aggressive, especially during breeding. Best kept as pairs or with robust, similarly sized tankmates.
Highly territorial, especially as breeding pairs. May dig and rearrange substrate. Show strong pair bonding and protect territory and young aggressively.
Convict Cichlids are Central American cichlids famous for their striking black vertical stripes and parental care. They are exceptionally hardy and adapt well to a wide range of aquarium conditions. Convicts thrive in tanks with plenty of hiding places, rocks, and caves. Their aggressive territorial behavior, especially during breeding, makes them best suited for aquarists with some experience. They breed prolifically, sometimes leading to overpopulation. Both parents exhibit intense fry protection and are excellent for observing classic cichlid breeding behaviors.