Photo: Gacp (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Panama Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania kanna)
The largest of the convict cichlid group — boldly striped, fiercely territorial, and built for aquarists who want a confident Central American showpiece.
Will it live with a Panama Convict Cichlid?
We compare each fish against your panama convict cichlid on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Banjo Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 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.
- 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 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- 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.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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.
- Corydoras Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 6.5 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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, and their water overlaps around 24–30 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Medusa Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–30 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Pantanal Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–27 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- 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)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Rubber Lip Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Snowball Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 16 cm · Medium 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.
- Spotted Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 7 cm · Easy care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- 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)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Spotted Talking Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Striped Eel Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 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.
- Upside-down Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Weather Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Zebra Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °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.
- 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 26–30 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Boesemani Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Brilliant Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- 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)
- Panama 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.
- Denison Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 18–25 °C (64–77 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Denison Barb are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add denison barb in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Denison Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Discus⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
- Your 150 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Discus 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)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Giant Betta at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Giant Danio⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Giant Danio — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Glass Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Giant Glass Catfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keyhole Cichlid⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Keyhole Cichlid at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Mascara Barb⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Mascara Barb at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 150 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.
- Molly⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Molly are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add molly in a group to spread the pressure.
- Moonlight Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Moonlight Gourami are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add moonlight gourami in a group to spread the pressure.
- Murray River Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Murray River Rainbowfish at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pearl Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Pearl Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Silver Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Silver Tetra — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- 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 Panama Convict Cichlid to harass Thick-lipped Gourami at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Panama Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 250 cm predatory alligator gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 150 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Panama Convict Cichlid and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 15 cm Panama Convict Cichlid whole.
- Your 150 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)
- Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Panama Convict Cichlid and Fire Eel will hold territory and clash.
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 15 cm): Fire Eel will treat Panama Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm koi — it will be eaten.
- Your 150 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Mekong Giant Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Your 150 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 15 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Panama Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Panama Convict Cichlid is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Your 150 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)
- Panama Convict Cichlid and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 15 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Panama Convict Cichlid as food.
- Your 150 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.
Panama Convict Cichlid care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Easy
- Max size
- 15 cm (5.9 in)
- Min tank size
- 150 L (39.6 gal)
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness
- 8–20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- Best alone or in a pair
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Atlantic slope of Panama — rivers draining to the Caribbean coast
What is a Panama Convict Cichlid?
The Panama Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania kanna) is a robust, strongly territorial cichlid endemic to the Atlantic slope of Panama. Formally described by Schmitter-Soto in 2007, it is the largest recognised species in the Amatitlania genus, reaching up to 15 cm (6 in) in well-maintained aquariums. Its silver-grey flanks are crossed by eight to nine crisp black vertical bars — the signature convict pattern — but its greater depth of body and overall mass give it a noticeably more powerful silhouette than its better-known relative, the common Convict Cichlid (A. nigrofasciata).
Mature males develop a rounded nuchal hump on the forehead, more pronounced with age and good condition. The species has a confident, investigative temperament: it will rearrange substrate, redecorate rockwork, and make its opinions about tankmates loudly apparent. For aquarists who want a charismatic Central American cichlid with genuine personality — and who are prepared to give it appropriate space — A. kanna delivers.
Where do Panama Convict Cichlids come from?
Amatitlania kanna is native to rivers on the Atlantic (Caribbean) slope of Panama — a compact range compared to the wide Central American distribution of the common convict. These rivers are warm, moderately hard and neutral to mildly alkaline, flowing through tropical terrain with rocky substrates and leaf litter. Most fish in the hobby are captive-bred; wild-caught specimens and pure wild-type lines are uncommon in the trade.
What size tank does a Panama Convict Cichlid need?
A single adult requires a minimum of 150 litres (40 gallons) with a long footprint — floor space matters far more than height for a fish that defines territories horizontally. A bonded pair or a species setup pairing them with other robust Central Americans should step up to 200–300 litres (53–80 gal) or more, with enough length to divide the tank into clearly distinct zones.
Hardscape is essential. Dense arrangements of stacked rocks, clay caves, large driftwood pieces and clay pots break sightlines and allow subordinate fish to retreat without constant harassment. The substrate should be sand or fine gravel — pairs will excavate vigorously when spawning, and coarse gravel interferes with that behaviour. A secure lid is recommended; like most cichlids, A. kanna can jump when startled.
Filtration should be robust — aim for 6–10x turnover per hour — positioned to avoid one dominant high-flow zone. Weekly water changes of 25–30% are standard maintenance.
What water parameters does a Panama Convict Cichlid need?
- Temperature: 24–30 °C (75–86 °F). The species tolerates a broad thermal range reflective of its tropical river origin.
- pH: 7.0–8.0. Neutral to moderately alkaline; avoid soft acidic conditions typical of Amazonian setups.
- Hardness: 8–20 dGH. Moderately hard water suits them well and mirrors Caribbean-slope Panamanian rivers.
Stability is the priority. Sudden drops in temperature or pH are stressful and weaken immune function. A reliable heater and regular testing (especially in soft-water tap areas where pH can drift after water changes) keep the fish in optimal condition.
What do Panama Convict Cichlids eat?
Amatitlania kanna is an omnivore with a vigorous appetite. In the wild, cichlids in this genus consume invertebrates, plant material, detritus and opportunistic prey. In the aquarium a quality cichlid pellet forms the staple — choose a sinking or slow-sinking formula appropriate for a fish reaching 15 cm. Supplement weekly with:
- Protein items: earthworms, frozen bloodworms, frozen shrimp, chopped mussel.
- Vegetable matter: blanched spinach, zucchini medallions, spirulina wafers.
Feed adults once or twice a day in amounts consumed within two to three minutes. Overfeeding degrades water quality rapidly in a cichlid tank.
How aggressive are Panama Convict Cichlids, and what can live with them?
Amatitlania kanna is rated Aggressive — a designation that must be taken seriously. A bonded pair defending a territory or actively breeding will attack virtually any intruder regardless of size, and an unpaired male will assert dominance over anything sharing its space. This is not posturing; damage and death are real outcomes with incompatible tankmates.
Realistic compatibility options:
- Best: species-only setup with a single male or a proven pair.
- Workable: large, robust Central American cichlids of similar or greater size (e.g. Firemouth, Jack Dempsey, larger Cichlasoma species) in a large tank with clear territory dividers and multiple retreat points.
- Avoid: small tetras, livebearers, corydoras, smaller cichlids, any slow or timid fish, and invertebrates.
For a detailed, filterable list of evaluated pairings, see Panama Convict Cichlid tank mates.
How do you tell male and female Panama Convict Cichlids apart?
Sexual dimorphism in A. kanna is clear in adults. Males are larger overall and develop a distinct nuchal hump — a fatty, rounded swelling on the forehead that becomes more pronounced as the fish matures and conditions well. Males also tend to show more uniform bar contrast across the body.
Females are slightly smaller, lack the pronounced nuchal hump, and display orange to salmon-tinted flanks along with a darker patch on the belly — especially vivid near spawning time. This orange colouration is a reliable sexing indicator once fish reach around 6–8 cm. Juveniles are difficult to sex reliably; wait until fish reach at least 5 cm before drawing firm conclusions.
How do Panama Convict Cichlids breed?
Breeding A. kanna is rated Easy — arguably the species’ most notorious trait. A compatible pair will spawn without much encouragement once water conditions are stable and flat surfaces or caves are available. Typical spawning site preferences include the underside of a smooth flat rock, the interior of a clay cave or upturned pot, or a cleared depression in the substrate.
The female deposits adhesive eggs on the cleaned surface; the male fertilises them immediately. Both parents share brood care — fanning eggs, removing infertile ones, and guarding aggressively. Eggs hatch in two to three days at 26–28 °C; fry become free-swimming within another four to five days and accept crushed flake or baby brine shrimp.
The main challenge is managing the aggression, not triggering a spawn. A breeding pair will attack any tankmate, so maintain a species-only setup or remove other fish before spawning begins. Removing eggs promptly is the simplest way to avoid raising fry.
What diseases are common in Panama Convict Cichlids?
A. kanna is a hardy species with few species-specific vulnerabilities, but like all cichlids it is susceptible to common aquarium conditions when water quality deteriorates.
Ich (white spot): Fine white granules across fins and body, caused by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Prevention relies on stable temperature and quarantining new fish and plants before introduction.
Hole-in-the-head (HITH): Pitting erosions on the head and lateral line, associated with poor water quality, nutritional deficiencies and prolonged exposure to activated carbon. Improve water change frequency and diet quality as the first response.
Bacterial infections and fin damage: Common when cichlids fight — wounds become entry points for secondary infection. Adequate space, territory breaks in the hardscape, and prompt separation of incompatible fish are the prevention strategy.
Bloat and internal parasites: Opportunistic in stressed or newly imported fish. Thorough quarantine of new arrivals significantly reduces risk.
Health note: disease identification and medication dosing are outside the scope of a care profile. If a fish shows persistent symptoms, consult a veterinary or specialist fish-health resource and address water quality before considering treatment.
How long do Panama Convict Cichlids live?
With attentive care, A. kanna lives 8–12 years in the aquarium — a meaningful commitment that reflects the species’ cichlid-typical longevity. The fish reaches full size and develops its adult nuchal hump gradually over the first two to three years, so the relationship genuinely deepens with time. Consistent water quality, a varied diet and a stress-appropriate environment (adequate space, stable parameters, compatible or absent tankmates) are the foundations of a long, healthy lifespan.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Panama Convict Cichlid different from the common Convict Cichlid?
Amatitlania kanna is a distinct species from Atlantic Panama and is notably larger — reaching up to 15 cm — compared to the common Convict Cichlid (A. nigrofasciata). It also differs in body depth and gill-raker morphology. In terms of care and temperament they are similar, but kanna needs more space and is generally considered the more imposing of the two.
Can Panama Convict Cichlids be kept with other fish?
With care. They are best in a species-only setup or paired with large, robust Central American cichlids that can hold their own. Smaller or slow-moving fish will be bullied or eaten. Pairs bond strongly and defend territories aggressively during breeding, so tank size and hardscape dividers matter.
What you need to keep a panama convict cichlid
The baseline is a heated, filtered 150 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 24–30 °C (75–86 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a panama convict cichlid in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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