Photo: S. Olkowicz - User Hippocampus on pl.wikipedia (CC BY 2.5) — via Wikimedia Commons
Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)
The feisty zebra-striped cichlid that punches above its weight — comically easy to breed, brutally hard on tankmates.
Will it live with a Convict Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your convict cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Agassiz's Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Agassiz's Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Banjo Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 21–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bearded Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 21–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Blood Red Tiger Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Bristlenose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Clown Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Corydoras Catfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Marbled Hoplo✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Murray River Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 21–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pantanal Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Pantanal Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Peppered Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Peppered Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Porthole Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Spotfin Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotfin Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Spotted Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Sterbai Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Sterbai Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Eel Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Zebra Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brilliant Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Brilliant Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add brilliant rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Rasbora⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Betta⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (9–20 vs 1–8 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Giant Danio⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Giant Danio are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add giant danio in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keyhole Cichlid⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Keyhole Cichlid are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add keyhole cichlid in a group to spread the pressure.
- Kuhli Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Convict Cichlid 9–20 vs Kuhli Loach 1–8 dGH).
- Mascara Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Mascara Barb in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Medusa Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Molly⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Convict Cichlid to harass Molly at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Pearl Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Rubber Lip Pleco⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Silver Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Silver Tetra are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add silver tetra in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Silver Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Thick-lipped Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Convict Cichlid to harass Thick-lipped Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Upside-down Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Zebra Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Convict Cichlid and Alligator Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Clown Knifefish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 10 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Fire Eel are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 10 cm): Fire Eel will treat Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Mekong Giant Catfish⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Convict Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~100000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Convict Cichlid and Redtail Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Convict Cichlid and Spotted Gar will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 10 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Convict Cichlid and Wels Catfish will hold territory and clash.
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Convict Cichlid whole.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Convict Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Easy
- Breeding
- Easy
- Max size
- 10 cm (3.9 in)
- Min tank size
- 110 L (29.1 gal)
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Hardness
- 9–20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8–10 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Group size
- Best alone or in a pair
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Central America — Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama; rocky stream edges and lake margins
What is a Convict Cichlid?
The convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a small but intensely combative Central American cichlid instantly recognised by its bold black-and-silver prison-stripe pattern — those 8–9 vertical bars are where both the common name and its “zebra cichlid” alias come from. Reaching up to 10 cm (4 in), it is compact by cichlid standards, yet it more than compensates with attitude: convicts will chase, nip and bodily drive away fish two or three times their own size when they feel their territory is threatened.
Despite the fiery personality, convict cichlids are genuinely beginner-friendly within the right setup. They are hardy across a wide range of water parameters, eat almost anything offered, and breed with a reliability that no other cichlid in the hobby quite matches. For keepers willing to give them space and appropriate tank-mates — or keep them as a species-only pair — they are endlessly entertaining and surprisingly long-lived.
Where do Convict Cichlids come from?
Wild convicts are native to Central America, ranging from Honduras and Guatemala through El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and into Panama. They colonise the rocky edges of fast-flowing streams, rivers and lake margins — habitats characterised by broken substrate, boulders, submerged roots and plenty of crevices for shelter and spawning.
That rocky, current-swept origin explains both their robustness (water chemistry shifts rapidly in shallow streams) and their territorial mindset: in the wild, prime cave or overhang territory is worth fighting for. Aquarium convicts are almost entirely captive-bred across many generations, which has only sharpened their tolerance for varied conditions while leaving the aggression and parental drive completely intact.
What size tank does a Convict Cichlid need?
The practical minimum for a single pair is 110 litres (29 gal), and that number rises quickly if you intend to keep them alongside other species. Convicts are bottom-orientated fish that claim and defend discrete territories, and in a cramped tank territorial disputes become relentless and exhausting — for the fish and the keeper.
For a pair with no other tank-mates, 110 L gives just enough room to establish separate shelter zones. Add a second adult cichlid of any kind and you need at least 200 L (53 gal) with heavy decoration to break sightlines. A longer footprint is more valuable than height: aim for a tank that is 90 cm (36 in) or more along the base.
Filtration should be robust — convicts are messy eaters and active diggers — but avoid white-water turbulence; moderate, well-distributed flow suits them better.
What water parameters do Convict Cichlids need?
Convicts are among the most tolerant cichlids in the hobby:
- Temperature: 21–28 °C (70–82 °F). They survive at the low end but thrive and breed most readily around 24–26 °C (75–79 °F).
- pH: 6.5–8.0. They are genuinely unbothered across this range, which spans soft-acid to moderately alkaline.
- Hardness: 9–20 dGH — moderate to hard water suits them well and mirrors their Central American stream habitat.
Stability matters far more than precision. A cycled tank with consistent weekly water changes of 25–30% is the single most important parameter of all. Avoid sudden temperature swings in either direction, which can trigger spawning stress or suppress immune function.
What do Convict Cichlids eat?
Convicts are opportunistic omnivores in the wild, picking off invertebrates, small crustaceans, plant matter and organic detritus from rocky substrates. In the aquarium they accept virtually everything and this is one of their most appealing traits:
- Pellets or cichlid sticks as the staple — choose a quality cichlid-specific formula sized appropriately for a 10 cm fish.
- Frozen or live foods (bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia, earthworm pieces) for enrichment and conditioning ahead of breeding.
- Vegetable matter (blanched spinach, courgette, spirulina-based foods) to complement the protein-heavy diet.
Feed once or twice daily, only what is consumed in two to three minutes. Convicts are enthusiastic eaters and will readily overeat; excess food fouls the water quickly in the enclosed volume of their tank.
Are Convict Cichlids aggressive — and what fish can live with them?
Straightforwardly: convicts are aggressive, and that classification is not softened by their small size. They establish and defend territories with conviction (hence the name, in the eyes of many keepers), and when a breeding pair is guarding a clutch, they will fearlessly attack anything — including the keeper’s hand — that wanders within striking distance.
Keeping a bonded pair alone in a species tank is the safest and most commonly recommended approach. If you want a mixed setup, it demands careful planning:
- Tank-mates must be similarly robust Central American cichlids (firemouth, green terror, salvini) in a large, well-decorated tank of 200 L+ (53 gal+).
- Provide multiple caves, rock stacks and sight-blockers so that subordinate fish always have an escape route and an alternative territory.
- Avoid all small, peaceful or slow-moving fish. Tetras, livebearers, rasboras and corydoras will be harassed relentlessly.
- Even other cichlids are not guaranteed to coexist — monitor closely and have a contingency tank ready.
For a detailed breakdown of compatible and incompatible species, see Convict Cichlid tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Convict Cichlids apart?
Sexual dimorphism in convicts is clear enough that experienced keepers can sex juveniles reliably from around 5–6 cm:
- Males grow larger, reaching up to 10 cm (4 in), develop a pronounced nuchal hump on the forehead as they mature, and have a longer, more pointed dorsal fin. Their barring is present but often less intense than in females.
- Females remain smaller at around 7 cm (2.75 in) and display the species’ most distinctive sex-specific feature: a vivid orange or pinkish-red flush on the belly, most intense when she is gravid or actively spawning. Females are also generally more intensely barred than males.
A mated pair in breeding condition is one of the easier sexing exercises in the cichlid hobby — the female’s orange belly is unmistakable.
How do Convict Cichlids breed?
Convict cichlids are arguably the easiest cichlid to breed in captivity — a reliable, motivated pair in stable water will spawn with very little encouragement, which makes them a popular choice for keepers wanting their first cichlid breeding experience.
Provide a flat stone, upturned clay pot, or cave entrance as a spawning site. The female cleans the chosen surface meticulously, then lays a clutch of typically 30–100 adhesive eggs (larger, well-conditioned females may lay more). Both parents fertilise and fan the eggs, which hatch in 48–72 hours at 25 °C (77 °F). The wriggling larvae are moved to a pre-dug pit in the substrate by the parents and become free-swimming fry within another 4–6 days.
Both parents guard the brood aggressively — this is one of the hallmarks of convict parenting and a spectacle worth watching. Fry are large enough to accept newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake from the moment they become free-swimming. The pair will typically spawn again within weeks of the previous brood becoming independent, so be prepared to manage fry numbers.
What are common Convict Cichlid diseases?
Convicts are robust fish that rarely succumb to disease when water quality is maintained, but several conditions are worth knowing:
- Ich (white spot): Small white cysts on the body and fins, typically triggered by temperature drops or stress from shipping or aggression. Raising temperature to the upper end of their range (27–28 °C / 81–82 °F) during treatment helps.
- Hole-in-the-head disease (HITH): Pitting or lesions around the lateral line and head — associated with poor water quality, nutrient deficiency and/or stress in territorial cichlids. Prevention centres on excellent water quality and a varied diet.
- Fin and scale damage: Not a disease but a regular consequence of pair aggression or territory disputes. Keep decor complex and monitor subordinate fish for escalating wounds.
- Bacterial infections: Open wounds from fighting can become infected; the cure is addressing the aggression source and maintaining pristine water rather than the wound itself.
Health note: confirming a specific diagnosis before acting is essential — many cichlid diseases present similarly. Cross-check symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before medicating, and always treat in a quarantine tank where possible.
How long do Convict Cichlids live?
With attentive care, convict cichlids are long-lived aquarium fish, typically reaching 8–10 years. That lifespan is notably longer than many similarly sized tropical fish and reflects the hardiness that makes the species so adaptable. A convict kept in stable, clean water with a varied diet and enough space to establish a settled territory can be a genuine decade-long commitment — something worth considering before acquiring a pair, given their ongoing space and compatibility demands.
Frequently asked questions
Can convict cichlids live with other fish?
Only cautiously. Convicts are highly territorial and downright aggressive when spawning — they will attack fish several times their size. Best kept as a bonded pair alone, or with similarly robust Central American cichlids in a large, heavily decorated tank. Peaceful community fish are almost always bullied to death.
How easy is it to breed convict cichlids?
Very easy — they are among the simplest cichlids to spawn and are considered outstanding parents. Provide a flat stone or cave, maintain water in their range, and a compatible pair will usually spawn within weeks. Brood size typically runs 30–100 fry, and both parents guard aggressively.
What you need to keep a convict cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 110 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 21–28 °C (70–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a convict cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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