Convict Cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Photo: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Tough, cheap, and mean once they spawn. Fine in a species tank. A disaster in a community of tetras.
Tough, cheap, and mean once they spawn.
In the tank
- Hardy cichlid for a species tank.
- Water
- freshwater
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Swims
- All levels
- Adult size
- 6 in
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- Group
- Can be kept singly
- Temperature
- 70–80°F
- pH
- 6.5–8.0
- Diet
- Cichlid pellets and frozen foods.
- Beginner
- Not a first fish
How to keep them
- They will own a 20-gallon once paired.
- Caves start wars.
Tankmates
Best alone or as a known pair.
Avoid
Tetras, shrimp, and ‘community’ labels on the bag.
Check tankmates · Stocking calculator
Same group
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
A tall cichlid people treat like a tetra.
A real centrepiece in a 29 with height.
German Blue Ram
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
A small South American cichlid for a warm sand bed.
Personality in a 20+ planted tank without oscar drama.
Electric Yellow Cichlid
Labidochromis caeruleus
Mbuna. Rock-picking African cichlid.
Grazes aufwuchs on rock in a Malawi setup.
Jack Dempsey
Rocio octofasciata
Large Central American cichlid. A pet, not a mix-in.
One adult is the show. They know the glass is a wall.
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
A large cichlid that acts like a dog.
Interactive. That is the whole point.
Discus
Symphysodon spp.
Show fish with show requirements.
A planted discus tank is the look people steal for photos.