Common name
Convict cichlid
Scientific name
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Category
Freshwater fish
Group
Medium cichlids
Environment
Large, robust Central American freshwater aquarium with strong filtration, secure caves, open floor area and broken sight lines
Origin
Central America; core records are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, while boundaries with related Amatitlania remain taxonomically complex
Care level
Intermediate
Adult size
Up to about 10 cm standard length; large males may be longer in total length
Expected lifespan
About 6–10 years
Minimum housing
At least 200 L for a pair, with no assumption that community tankmates remain safe during breeding
Temperature
23–28 °C
pH
6.5–8.0
Hardness / minerals
Soft to moderately hard, with stable mineral chemistry
Salinity
Freshwater, 0 ppt; routine salt addition is not recommended
Lighting
Moderate with shaded cave territories
Placement / swimming zone
All levels, especially lower water and cave territories

Identity and search names

Profile for Amatitlania nigrofasciata while recognising unresolved boundaries and past splits within the convict-cichlid complex. Do not assign every regional “convict” to this species without provenance.

Environment and housing

Large footprint, strong filtration, robust secured décor, several caves, visual barriers and no trap points

Feeding and nutrition

Feeding ecology: Omnivore; quality cichlid pellets with plant material and varied invertebrate foods

Feeding routine: Offer controlled meals once or twice daily and prevent breeding adults monopolising all food

Breeding and reproduction

Prolific cave spawner with repeated clutches

Parental care: Highly effective biparental care of eggs and fry

System demands

Filtration: Use mature biological filtration sized for the adult stock and feeding load, with guarded intakes and a flow pattern the species can use without continual effort.

Aeration: Maintain strong gas exchange and stable dissolved oxygen, especially overnight, during warm weather, medication, crowding or any interruption to filtration.

Maintenance: Test ammonia and nitrite after changes or abnormal behaviour; remove waste from the occupied zone and perform regular water changes matched to temperature and mineral chemistry.

Detailed husbandry

Identity scope
Profile for Amatitlania nigrofasciata while recognising unresolved boundaries and past splits within the convict-cichlid complex. Do not assign every regional “convict” to this species without provenance.
Adult size and space
Up to about 10 cm standard length; large males may be longer in total length. At least 200 L for a pair, with no assumption that community tankmates remain safe during breeding. Adult dimensions, activity, social structure and waste production matter more than sale size.
Social structure
Compatible pair only after careful observation; provide separate retreat and a plan for repeated fry
Swimming zone
Primary zone: All levels, centred on cave and substrate territories. Keep that zone usable and provide unobstructed feeding access, movement and refuge appropriate to the species.
Feeding ecology
Omnivore; quality cichlid pellets with plant material and varied invertebrate foods
Feeding plan
Offer controlled meals once or twice daily and prevent breeding adults monopolising all food
Water stability
Maintain 23–28 °C; pH: 6.5–8.0; hardness/minerals: Soft to moderately hard, with stable mineral chemistry. Stable temperature, oxygen, mineral chemistry and nitrogen-cycle control matter more than chasing one exact number.
Habitat structure
Large footprint, strong filtration, robust secured décor, several caves, visual barriers and no trap points
Compatibility plan
Safest as a pair or species-focused setup; breeding adults can injure or kill otherwise compatible tankmates
Breeding plan
Prolific cave spawner with repeated clutches. Parental care: Highly effective biparental care of eggs and fry. Do not trigger reproduction without capacity for aggression, eggs or fry and lawful long-term placement.
Quarantine
Quarantine new fish in a separate cycled aquarium with dedicated nets, containers and siphons. Match temperature and mineral chemistry gradually, confirm normal feeding, respiration, skin, fins and waste, and never pour transport water into the established aquarium.
Welfare checks
Check jaw and fin injury, hiding, feeding access, pair aggression, fry density and whether any fish is trapped outside all refuge.
Biosecurity and release
Never release fish, eggs, fry, aquarium water, sediment, plants or foods into drains, dams or natural waterways. Confirm the exact accepted identity against current Australian import requirements and applicable South Australian rules before import, sale or movement; import eligibility never authorises release or wild collection.
Main risk
Easy spawning is not responsible breeding. Convicts produce repeated broods, become violently territorial and have a high history of invasiveness after aquarium release.
Adult Projected Load
Moderate for the planned adult stock. Calculate filtration, oxygen and swimming space from the full adult size (Up to about 10 cm standard length; large males may be longer in total length) and social group (Compatible pair only after careful observation; provide separate retreat and a plan for repeated fry), not the juvenile sale size.
Filtration
Use mature mechanical and biological filtration with protected intakes and enough turnover for the adult group while preserving species-appropriate current and refuge.
Aeration
Provide strong gas exchange and backup aeration; increase oxygen support before warm weather, heavy feeding, crowding, medication or filter interruption reduces the safety margin.
Maintenance
Remove uneaten food and bottom waste, clean prefilters before flow falls, test ammonia and nitrite after changes, and perform regular temperature- and chemistry-matched water changes.
Overridable Warnings
Easy spawning is not responsible breeding. Convicts produce repeated broods, become violently territorial and have a high history of invasiveness after aquarium release.

Welfare and risk

Main risk

Easy spawning is not responsible breeding. Convicts produce repeated broods, become violently territorial and have a high history of invasiveness after aquarium release.

Check jaw and fin injury, hiding, feeding access, pair aggression, fry density and whether any fish is trapped outside all refuge. Easy spawning is not responsible breeding. Convicts produce repeated broods, become violently territorial and have a high history of invasiveness after aquarium release.

Non-overridable warning

Easy spawning is not responsible breeding. Convicts produce repeated broods, become violently territorial and have a high history of invasiveness after aquarium release.

Sources

Source note

CURRENT