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Encyclopedia / Cichlids / Convict cichlid
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Photo by Ondřej Křivan, CC BY · source · credits

Variations

2 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Convict cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata · Convict, Zebra cichlid

Aggressive and territorial, especially guarding fry.

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10 cmBody length, without tail ✓
24–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–8pH ✓
81 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • Convict cichlid eats animals up to about 4 cm. Neon tetra only grows to 2.5 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Convict cichlid eats animals up to about 4 cm. Cardinal tetra only grows to 3 cm.
Not recommended
  • Convict cichlid eats animals up to about 4 cm. Black neon tetra only grows to 3.2 cm.
With conditions
  • Their pH needs don't quite meet (6.5–8 vs 5–6). Aim between the two and keep it steady.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 24 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

130 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–25 dGH
Group size ?Can live alone
Temperament ✓Aggressive
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–4 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Aggressive and territorial, especially guarding fry.

Food

Pellets, flakes, frozen foods.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males grow larger, with pointed dorsal and anal fins and sometimes a forehead (nuchal) hump. Females are more colourful, with pink to orange on the belly and a dark spot in the dorsal fin.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner · Easy

Spawns readily on cleaned rock surfaces or in caves such as clay flowerpots, then moves the fry into pits dug in the substrate. Both parents guard eggs and fry for several weeks.

Pairing

Buy a group and let pairs form. They spawn very easily.

Setup

A 20 gallon (75 L) tank with a cave or flowerpot, 24-28 C.

What starts it

Warm water and good food. A pair claims a cave.

Eggs

Usually about 100-150 eggs, up to 300; they hatch in about 3 days (3-4 days), and fry swim freely after another 4-7 days.

Raising the fry

Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed flake. Parents guard fry well. Remove other fish. Separate when fry reach 3-4 cm.

Common mistakes
  • Keeping with fish that are too small
  • Overbreeding and flooding the market
  • Fish fighting hard
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionCentral America – Guatemala to Costa Rica
Rivers and lakesPacific and Atlantic drainages of Central America
HabitatRocky streams and rivers
Native rangeAbout 800 km across
See it on the world map

The story of the convict cichlid

Named for the vertical black bars that recall striped prison uniforms. A very common, prolific aquarium cichlid, with popular pink, long-finned and marbled forms.

Albert Günther described the convict cichlid in 1867 from Guatemala. Its black-and-white bars recall an old-style prison uniform, giving it its name. It is famous among aquarists for breeding readily and guarding its fry fiercely.

First described by Albert Günther in 1867.

  • It breeds readily in aquariums.
  • Both parents guard the fry aggressively.
  • Pink or 'white' forms are bred in captivity.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources