Care and Breeding of Convict Cichlids in Freshwater Aquariums
Hardy Fish and Ideal for Beginning Fishkeepers
Dec 5, 2008
The scientific name for a Convict Cichlid is archocentrus nigrofasciatus. They are native to Central America in countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama.
The common name, Convict Cichlid is derived from the vertical black stripes on their body which are similar to striped prison uniforms.
Characteristics of Convict Cichlids
Convict Cichlids have elongated and oval bodies which are laterally compressed. Their body colors range from white to light gray and have eight or nine dark stripes. There are Pink Cichlid and Albino Cichlid varieties which are less common.
Their dorsal fins range from iridescent green to yellow and other fins may have a slight green tint. Their bellies can have pink or orange scales.
The males grow to a length of six inches and females are slightly smaller at five inches. Males are easily distinguished by a steeper or slightly humped forehead. During spawning season, females develop orange bellies.
Convict Cichlid Compatibility in the Aquarium
Despite its size, Convict Cichlids will fight any fish, even species that are twice their size. Due to their aggressive nature, they are not suitable for most community tanks but can be put in aquariums with cichlids of similar size.
When Convict Cichlids are in a breeding mode, they will become more aggressive in order to protect their breeding area. For best results, it’s recommended to buy a group of young Convict Cichlids and see their preference in selecting their mates.
Aquarium Conditions for Convict Cichlids
If keeping a pair of Convict Cichlids, the minimum aquarium size should be at least 20 gallons.
The aquarium should have plenty of hiding places for breeding and for reducing aggression. Ideal hiding spots can be created with rock caves, driftwood, plastic pipes and flower pots turned on their sides. Convict Cichlids like to burrow in the gravel so some of the lighter weight items may get moved around.
Plastic plants should be used because Convict Cichlids eat live plants. Some floating plants are recommended.
The PH of the water should be in the range of 6.5 to 8.8. The hardness of the water is ideal at dH 4 to 20. The water temperature should be kept between 68F to 81F.
Convict Cichlids are not fussy eaters so they can be fed pellets, flakes, freeze dried food, and white worms. They can be given snacks of small pieces of lettuce or zucchini or cucumber.
Breeding Convict Cichlids
It is best to keep the Convict Cichlids in pairs, rather then in a colony. They are prolific breeders so there will never be a problem encouraging them to breed.
Convict Cichlids are egg layers and will tend to the care of their brood for approximately three to four weeks after hatching.
The mating ritual begins with the male and female Convict Cichlid shaking their bodies at each other and chasing around the aquarium. Once engaged in mating, the female lays eggs inside or on top of caves. The male immediately fertilizes the eggs. Both the male and female take turns fanning the eggs until they hatch 72 hours later.
The fry will be free-swimming approximately six to eight days after hatching. Once the egg sac disappears, the fry can eat finely ground up flake food, microworms or hard-boiled egg yolk dissolved in water. As the fry grow larger, they can be introduced to larger flakes and worms.
Convict Cichlids are easy to breed and they are highly recommended for any beginning aquarist who is interested in breeding cichlids. As long as their aggression is kept under control, they will breed continuously.
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