Common name: Convict Cichlid , Zebra cichlid
Distribution Central America: Guatemala , El Salvadore , Costa Rica & Panama
Coloration: Also known as the "zebra cichlid"; both this and "convict" are good descriptions of this species. It has black vertical bars on its bluish-lavender body. There is usually a pink tinge to its belly, and well-kept fish will have an iridescent pattern on their fins and sides. Both the dark stripes and pink belly become more pronounced during breeding. Males usually have darker stripes and pointier fins (in addition to their usually larger size), and fully mature ones will sometimes have a bit of a hump on their head. Females have pinker bellies and are usually rounder. There is also a pink albino strain.
Maintenance: This is perhaps one of the most forgiving fish in the pet trade... they are amazing survivors and adaptors! However, they are not for the weak of heart and for those fish keepers with peaceful community tank fish. These fish are NOT known for their gentle dispositions, and need to be kept with other aggressive, larger fish that will hold their own (it can and will harass some fish to death). They have been known to pick fights with Oscars more than 3X's their size, and win! Best kept alone or with their own kind, but fascinating fish to watch. Convicts are among the easiest bred fish in captivity, but watch out, make sure you know what you are getting yourself into when you get a pair (see below). This fish has no special requirements at all and is extremely hardy. It is great for beginners who are having trouble keeping more delicate species alive, but they must be prepared to see this territorial fighter in action if they want to keep them with other species, even other bad-attitude cichlids like red terrors and jack dempseys. If kept in the right setup, you will really see their amazing colors and behaviors come through--they are very entertaining fish. They can be fed a variety of foods, including flakes, cichlid pellets, frozen/live brine shrimp, bloodworms, and vegetables like chopped-up spinach leaves. They are omnivorous, and not picky eaters, but very greedy.
Breeding: Someone once described breeding convicts as "just add water and fish", and this is pretty accurate! An excellent fish for beginners to start breeding, but just be careful what you wish for... these fish breed at the drop of a hat and will produce many young. The male and female will pair off, and do a mating dance that involves shaking their heads at one another. They prefer to lay their eggs on the inside of a flowerpot, as shown in the picture, and both parents will usually dig a depression in the gravel around it. A breeding pair will vigorously defend their territory against encroaching fish, and will quickly push all the other inhabitants of the tank to the opposite corner. They are one of the very best when it comes to parental care, and will sometimes bury newborn fry when they are threatened, so don't be alarmed if they go missing for a day. Fry usually hatch in under a week, and take another 3-4 days to consume their yolk sacs and become free-swimming (do not feed during this time). Once swimming on their own, they can be fed live microworms. They will also take fry powder foods and then eventually graduate to flake food.
Biotope:
Unparticular, basic setup with hiding places (preferentially with fake/live plants)
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus
The Convict Cichlid
Above: A female Pink Convict, an albino variety of Archocentrus nigrofasciatus guarding her fry.
Photo by Sam Borstein.
Jump to: General Info | Habitat | Care | Feeding | Breeding | Price | Availability
See: 84 other Cichlid Profiles in our Fish of the Month Archive.
General:
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, known universally as the Convict Cichlid, is substrate-spawning cichlid native to Lake Atitlan and Lake Amatitlan in Guatemala south to Panama in Central America . This fish was first typed by Günther in 1867.
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is is also known under the synonyms Cryptoheros nigrofasciatus and Cichlasoma nigrofasciatus. Occasionally, you will see the species name erroneously referred to as Archocentrus nigrofasciatum or Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum.
Any way you spell it, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is one of the most popular cichlids. Why?
Very hardy and thrives in almost any water conditions
Easy to breed, even in small tanks
Exhibit outstanding parental care
Available in a variety of color forms
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus males get up to about 6". Female Convict cichlids get up to about 5". Mature females have a rounder belly profile than males. Males have a longer, more flowing dorsal and anal fins and sometimes a nuchal (head) hump.
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is available in a number of color forms:
Black— a gray and black striped variety that was the inspiration for the common name "Convict"
Pink— an albino variety (see above)
Gold— Similar to the black variety, but exhibits lots of gold coloration on the belly
Calico— a fish with a white/gray base, with black and brown spotting
Long Fin Pink— a long-finned version of the Albino fish
Color-enhancing foods can greatly change the appearance of Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, especially the Pink variety. For example, a steady diet of Spectrum pellets, a red-enhancing food, will cause the belly area of the Pink Convict to turn almost solid red. Very attractive!
Some serious aquarists consider Convicts to be the "rats" of the aquarium hobby. To these folks, this fish is so easy to breed that it isn't a challenge. While Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is easy to breed, the intelligence and outstanding parental care exhibited by this fish is something every hobbyist should experience. Interestingly, in GCCA, there are members with over fifty spawns in our BAP program who have never spawned this fish!
Habitat:
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is found in a variety of habitats from streams to pools and ponds. It is generally closely associated with cover such as roots, rocks and overhanging banks.
Care:
Convict Cichlids are easy to keep. A young pair of convicts may be kept in a ten-gallon tank. Groups of fish or larger specimens will need more room. Although this fish is tolerant of a variety of water conditions, regular partial water changes are necessary to keep this fish in good breeding shape. Maintain the tank temperature between 75 and 80F.
When breeding, Convicts will aggressively attack all other fish. Since they spawn easily— and often — be careful when choosing co-habitants for the tank.
Feeding:
In the wild, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is omnivorous. Stomach contents of wild Convicts have included worms, crustaceans, insects, fish and plant matter. In the aquarium, they are easy to feed. We fed HBH Graze, Spectrum pellets and various cichlid flakes.
Breeding:
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus is very easy to breed. Males and females form strong pair bonds. If you elect to buy a breeding pair, you will probably have success shortly.
If breeding pairs are not available, purchase 5 or 6 juveniles and place them in a 20-gallon tank. Provide numerous rocks and flowerpots for cover and a substrate of fine gravel. We have found a quality pellet food such as Spectrum helps these fish grow quickly and color nicely. Weekly, 50% water changes will ensure rapid growth and health.
When the fish approach two-inches in length, look for signs of pair bonding such as territory defense and excavation of the substrate. At this point, the dominant pair in the tank may "own" a significant piece of tank real estate, driving the other fish away. You may wish to remove the other fish at this point. If you provide lots of cover, it may not be necessary.
Shortly after pair bonding, you may observe the female cleaning the spawning site— usually the inside of a clay flowerpot. Spawning and the laying of eggs generally commences within a day after. Spawns range in size from 50 to 100 in our experience with fish that are under a year old. Older pairs may have 300 eggs or more. After the eggs are laid, the females stays close to the eggs fanning oxygenated water over the eggs. Meanwhile, the male patrols the outskirts of the territory, chasing away possible intruders.
The eggs hatch in about 72 hours at 78F. The wriggling larvae may be moved by the parents to various pits dug in the substrate. A week later, the fry are free-swimming.
We feed newly hatched baby brine shrimp to the fry and have excellent results. They fry grow quickly and can be trasitioned to flake food at 3 weeks old.
Care Info
This cichlid should only be kept with other tough centrals - NOT MALAWI
Convicts may become bold when another fish intrudes. A convict will attack or "Dance" with larger fish in their territory. Most of the time the intruder only receives a few bites as a warning to stay away.
Male convicts should not be put together (Unless the tank is 20gal or larger). Most of the time, the males will fight until one of them is seriously injured. Females can become very aggressive too if they have a nest or they just spawned.
For a fact cichlids are not to be kept with gouramis. I found out the hard way my convict cichlid was whoopin the tar out of it and the gourami was 5 times bigger than it. so point is they are not your community fish at that. - hobbist chris fuller
I have an 80 gallon tank with 12 different MALAWI CICHLIDS and one male convict. The convict is my favorite in the tank because of his personality. He spends most of the time in his cave, with his head sticking out, and he is one of the least aggersive fish in my tank. However, I wouldn't recommend keeping a spawning pair of convicts with MALAWI CICHLIDS because they will kill other fish to protect their fry.
[edit]Breeding
People who try to breed these good-looking fish are about to get shocked!Once they put a male and female convict together, it's like add water and mix and you've got hundreds of fry !
Father-Mother-Family. It's a substrate breeder which is at a step to a cave-breeder - the places where they spawn are often very hidden as if they were caves.
Mother and father may appear to eat the fry, but are actually herding them back to the nest. If a fry gets too far away, the parents use their mouth to bring them back..
Care Info
This cichlid should only be kept with other tough centrals - NOT MALAWI
Convicts may become bold when another fish intrudes. A convict will attack or "Dance" with larger fish in their territory. Most of the time the intruder only receives a few bites as a warning to stay away.
Male convicts should not be put together (Unless the tank is 20gal or larger). Most of the time, the males will fight until one of them is seriously injured. Females can become very aggressive too if they have a nest or they just spawned.
For a fact cichlids are not to be kept with gouramis. I found out the hard way my convict cichlid was whoopin the tar out of it and the gourami was 5 times bigger than it. so point is they are not your community fish at that. - hobbist chris fuller
I have an 80 gallon tank with 12 different MALAWI CICHLIDS and one male convict. The convict is my favorite in the tank because of his personality. He spends most of the time in his cave, with his head sticking out, and he is one of the least aggersive fish in my tank. However, I wouldn't recommend keeping a spawning pair of convicts with MALAWI CICHLIDS because they will kill other fish to protect their fry.
Breeding
People who try to breed these good-looking fish are about to get shocked!Once they put a male and female convict together, it's like add water and mix and you've got hundreds of fry !
Father-Mother-Family. It's a substrate breeder which is at a step to a cave-breeder - the places where they spawn are often very hidden as if they were caves.
Mother and father may appear to eat the fry, but are actually herding them back to the nest. If a fry gets too far away, the parents use their mouth to bring them back..
From Central America . Pink Congos Guatemala , Costa Rica , and Panama
Cichlids/Centrarchids. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term “cichlid,” these are the south of the border version of the centrarchids -- our sunfishes. They are just as scrappy as our version (and probably as tasty). Do not mix these with most community fishes (except other cichlids). They need lots of elbow room and will beat many competitors to death.
Easy Breeders. Pink Congos
Young Breeders. Convicts get down to serious egglaying at a very young age. Many cichlids think about these things after they turn one year old. Convicts are quite precocious. Most will pair off under six months of age. Many parents spawn before they reach two inches in length.
Size. Convicts breed at a small size. This means most wind up in small tanks (10 gallons and under). This stunts their growth so they top out at three, maybe four inches. But if you give them plenty of space and food, they will grow to six inches -- especially if kept away from the opposite sex. Most convicts are more interested in breeding than feeding. Constant egg production probably inhibits part of their growth potential.
Males. Male convicts of the same age as females are larger, more colorful (with the exception of the female’s gold abdomen), longer finned, and bluer. The males get a blue sheen when the light hits them right. You can really see their sheen when you net them. When ready to breed (which is most of the time), their body darkens and their bars turn a dark jet black.
Females. Female convicts are usually plumper, a shade less aggressive, and have a gold belly -- especially if you look at them in a net under strong light. The gold gets much brighter at breeding time. This sex-based color variation is apparent on both the regulars and the pinks.
The Pair. Try to find potential breeders about the same size. The larger male convicts can easily overpower the weaker females. This results in her trying to hide lying on her side at the top of the tank (which, by the way, rarely works). The three above are pairing off in a half-gallon critter cage. Of course they need more room.
Spousal Abuse. Male convicts quite often beat the tar out of their females -- especially in small tanks. They beat on them, rip off scales and fins, and often kill them. As a result, there are many more large males out there than large females -- maybe ten to one. At least once a week someone will come in looking for a “large” female convict cichlid.
Cover. The female needs several places to hide. If she can’t get away from the male, he may kill her. Ceramic caves make easily defended hiding places and spawning sites. Rock jumbles and bunches of plants also help. Any driftwood, PVC pipe, plastic plants or shipwrecks will give her a place to get away from his not always wanted (and sometimes deadly) attention. Once she lays her eggs, he better watch out. Some females will run off or kill their former spouses. Say no more. C'est l' amour.
Spawning Site. Females usually pick a cave to spawn in (but not always). If you want to watch their eggs develop, put a ceramic cave in the front where you can easily see it. Of course, they reserve the right to spawn wherever they decide to spawn.
Conditioning. Convicts breed without special diets. However, certain foods and feeding practices will get their little over-juiced hormones flowing even faster. Feed them four times a day -- not huge amounts, just enough to pooch out their little bellies. Give them more than one type of food. You will see their colors brighten. After one of their daily feedings, slip them some extra nutrition from this tasty list:
Live black worms
Frozen or live brine shrimp
Frozen plankton
Frozen bloodworms
Small earthworms
Mealworms cut in half
Match Making. If you drop an unsuspecting female convict into the same tank where a large male has lived alone for a while, her chances of survival are limited. He owns the joint. All intruders will be whupped -- even potential mates. Better: Put him in an isolation tank for a week. Let her take over the spawning tank and set up housekeeping. Put him in after she “owns” the tank a week or so. Her chances for survival increase dramatically. However, she still needs cover.
Scientific name: Archocentrus nigrofasciatus
Convict cichlids fish is very easy to keep and breed in aquariums and is therefore an ideal beginner’s fish and especially suited for those who want to keep their first cichlid. The name convict cichlid describes these beautiful fish and its black stripes on a white background very accurately. Convict cichlids are also known as zebra cichlids.
Convict cichlids is a hardy species that can adept to just about any water condition which is one of the reasons behind this fish suitability as a beginner cichlid for all aquarist how can offer them an aquarium of at least 100l/ 24gallon You should however know that Convict cichlids can sometimes be white aggressive towards other fish which means that they shouldn’t be kept with other to small or timid fishes. Suitable tank mates to keep with convict cichlids are instead fish species that are large enough to stand their ground or hardy species that are fast enough to avoid the convict’s aggressions such as some barbs. Another good option is to keep a pair of convict cichlids alone in an aquarium without any other species in the aquarium. Keeping them alone will make it easier to observe their fascinating breeding behaviour including the rearing of the fry.
An aquarium intended for convict cichlids should be decorated with a few flat stones and perhaps a cave or two. Plats are not necessary and most plants will be destroyed by the fish. There is however a number of hardier plants that can be kept with convict cichlids such as Amazonian swords plant and java fern. Using plants of this type can be beneficial by making the fish feel more at home and by making the aquarium more beautiful to look at. The fact is that convict cichlid will make them selves feel at home however you decide that you want to decorate as long as you avoid using harmful or toxic things in your aquarium decoration.
They will accept a very wide temperature range and pH level range as long as it keep relatively stable but is best kept in 20-28C/ 68-82F and pH 6-8.
Feeding convict cichlids is very easy since they accept any food you may choose to give them and can without any problem be kept and bred on foods such as flake food and pellets.
Convict cichlids are one of the easiest fish in the world to breed. They can spawn from very young age and I have seen a 50L / 15gallon in a store that contained about 50 1-2 inch long convict cichlids. The aquarium was decorated with 3 small stones at the bottom and under each of these stones you cold find a pair of convict cichlids that had dug a cave under the stone and breed in it. Whenever you visited that aquarium there would be fish breeding under each of those stones. Of course no fry managed to survive under those conditions but it reflects how easy convicts are to breed. The saying that all you have to do to breed convict cichlids is to add water is almost true. Feed your fish and they will spawn.
Convicts cichlids usually lay their eggs on a flat stone and both parents guard both the eggs and the fry. They are usually where good parents and can become very aggressive towards other fish that enters their breeding territory. The fry can be feed crushed flake food and newly hatched brine shrimp.
There are several colour variants of the convict cichlid such as an albino variant often sold as ivory cichlid and a pink variant. These variants can sometimes be a little harder to breed then the regular convict cichlid but you should be able to succeed as long as you keep the water clean, the fish well feed and have patience.
Good luck with your convicts cichlids
Is This What They Meant By "Jailbait"?! The Convict Cichlid! Posted on Sep 15, 2002 - 10:40 PM by The AquaFriend!
This little fish is a true aqua-criminal! In fact, many hobbyists describe this perpetrator as a "homicidal maniac"! And, look! This fish already has its "prison stripes"! However, before you lock this fish up and throw away the key, you may want to give the fish a second hearing! This fish may get you locked up - in cichlid-mania! Not only is this fish a great beginner fish for hobbyists who would like to keep cichlids, it is also one of the hardiest, easy to care for fish! And if you are wanting to try your hand at breeding fish in a home aquarium, this fish is a must have! In fact, once they get started, you can't stop these fish from breeding! It's the homicidal, hardy, sex-crazed cichlid called the Convict Cichlid!
I am an admitted cichlidiot! For those who don't know what that means, it simply means that I love cichlids to the extreme! I love cichlids to the point where I have to buy every species I come across! I love cichlids to the point where I continue to buy new aquariums just to keep more cichlids at home! (10 home aquariums and counting now!) It's easy to become a cichlidiot. Some would say it's too easy. Cichlids are some of the hardiest, easy to care for freshwater fish available in the hobby. Cichlids are also some of the most energetic, colorful fish you will ever find! Their only drawback is their aggressive behavior.
Many cichlidiots begin their interest in keeping cichlids with the same cichlid I began with, the ever popular oscar. However, there is one other cichlid that many hobbyists claim is an even better cichlid to begin with: the convict cichlid.
The convict cichlid is a native of Guatemala , Panama , El Salvador , Honduras , Costa Rica and other areas of Central America . The convict cichlid's body is gray-blue with vertical black "prison" stripes from its nose to its tail. Due to years of captive breeding, there are also color variants of the convict cichlid available. The four known color variants of the convict cichlid are an albino form, a gold variation, a multicolored variant and the popular pink convict cichlid.
The convict cichlid is an undemanding fish that more or less takes care of itself. This, along with the fish's playful, energetic personality, makes the convict cichlid a popular fish for freshwater fish hobbyists. However, like many other cichlids, the convict cichlid has one major drawback: it's belligerent attitude. Truth be told, the convict cichlid is probably more aggressive than most other cichlids, regardless of their size!
While the convict cichlids available in pet stores are usually 2 to 3 inches in length, an adult convict cichlid won't grow much larger. An adult convict cichlid will usually reach a length of 5 to 6 inches. However, don't let the convict cichlid's size fool you. This tiny fish has a huge attitude!
Most fish that are the size of an adult convict cichlid would be able to comfortable fit into nearly any size aquarium, but not the convict cichlid! Because of the convict cichlid's aggressive behavior, this fish should only be kept in aquariums that are at least 30 gallons. Forget about housing the convict cichlid in a community tank! This fish will absolutely have to be placed in an aggressive tank! And even then, the convict cichlid may still terrorize its tank mates, regardless of their size! The convict cichlid has been known to attack much larger, aggressive cichlids like oscars, jaguar cichlids and green terrors! When the convict cichlid isn't battering another fish to death, it may choose to simply nip at the other fishes' tails and fins! Because of their aggression, many hobbyists have no choice but to house the convict cichlid in a species tank.
Deciding which fish to keep with the convict cichlid is more or less a case of "try and see". Convict cichlids can be placed in a tank with much larger, aggressive cichlids and be harassed. However, once the convict cichlid finds a place in the tank to call its own, look out! The convict cichlid may very well then turn on the fish that had previously harassed it and end up ruling the entire tank! Suggested tank mates for the convict cichlid can include nearly any other cichlid, regardless of its size and aggression level. Other suggested tank mates can include black sharks, rainbow sharks, red tail sharks, gouramis, tiger barbs, pacus and plecos. Slow moving fish should be avoided, since the convict cichlid seems to target these fish first. Be aware that even if you follow the above guideline for choosing tank mates for the convict cichlid, whether or not the convict cichlid gets along with the other fish boils down to one thing: the convict cichlid's mood! This homicidal maniac is so aggressive that it will often attack your hand while you are cleaning its tank!
While the convict cichlid is usually aggressive at all times, these fish actually become more aggressive when they are ready to breed. If you have never had the experience of raising your own fish from fry, the convict cichlid is the ideal fish for you. Choosing a compatible pair of convict cichlids shouldn't be too hard. The male of the species tends to be larger than the female. The male convict cichlid will also have longer, pointed dorsal and anal fins, while the female's fins are more rounded. The female will also have a scattering of orange scales on the lower part of the body. Perhaps the biggest indicator of the convict cichlid's sex is the forehead of the mature male. Once the male convict cichlid reaches adulthood, the fish will develop a fatty lump on its forehead.
Choosing a male and female convict cichlid won't guarantee a successful pairing. Sometimes if the female or male is smaller or weaker than the larger convict cichlid, the larger fish will then attack the inferior fish! This is a problem I have had twice. I had selected a pair of convict cichlids on two different occasions, and the females were smaller and apparently weaker than the males. In both instances, after I placed the convict cichlids into their tank, the males proceeded to batter the females to the point where the females were seriously injured, and later died! For this reason, it is suggested that you buy a pair of convict cichlids when they are young and compatible in size.
Often the first indication that a pair of convict cichlids are ready to breed will be when the fish take over control of at least half of their aquarium. In most instances, the other fish in the tank will be found congregating, if not cowering, on the other side of the tank! Notorious diggers, the convict cichlids will dig a pit right outside of their cave, rock or other established territory. The female will lay her eggs in the cave or on a flat rock. In 3 or 4 days, the fry will hatch and the female will move them into the pit. After 2 or 3 days, the fry will then become free swimmers. While the female looks after the fry, the male will stay nearby and continue to keep other fish away. The parents will defend the fry and try to keep them in one place for 10 to 14 days. At that time, the parents may be ready to spawn again and will chase the fry away from their spawning site! It's nearly impossible to keep well paired male and female convict cichlids from breeding! In fact, many reports suggest the pair will breed as often as every two weeks! So if you are wanting to raise fish from fry, be careful what you ask for! At this rate you may get well more than you ever asked for!
Breeding convict cichlids isn't always a given. Some hobbyists actually may have trouble breeding their convict cichlids. It is often suggested that you can aid in the convict cichlid's breeding process by trying a couple of things. One way to accelerate the breeding process is by raising the water's temperature to 85 to 90 degrees for about 24 hours. (This should only be done in a convict cichlid only tank, as the rise in temperature may harm other fish.) In about 2 to 3 days, you should have hundreds of tiny fry in the tank. The other possible solution is feeding the convict cichlids brine shrimp and bloodworms.
The best way to encourage the convict cichlid's breeding is to set up its aquarium properly. The convict cichlids will need at least a 30 gallon aquarium with plenty of cave like hiding places. The convict cichlids will also appreciate plenty of rocks and driftwood. Live plants aren't exactly recommended for the convict cichlid's tank because, like many other cichlids, this fish is its own "interior decorator"! Aside from digging holes in the aquarium's gravel or sand substrate, the convict cichlid will not only eat any live plants, but they will also uproot them! Forget designing a beautiful aquarium for your convict cichlids! They will likely make a mess of your decorations, and design things more to their liking! My convict cichlids spent more time burying under their tank decorations than ever living inside of them!
The water in the convict cichlid's aquarium should have a pH between 6.5 to 8.0. While the convict cichlid can tolerate vast water temperature changes, a temperature range of 68 - 76 degrees is preferred. The convict cichlid is an extremely hardy fish, but vast, quick changes in water temperature can beset the fish with ich.
Feeding the convict cichlid is just as easy as any other cichlid. It's probably easier to list what this fish won't eat! The omnivorous convict cichlid will readily accept flake foods, cichlid pellets, bloodworms, brine shrimp, krill, beef heart and small fish. The fry will readily accept powdered fry food, powdered flake food and newly hatched brine shrimp. It is suggested that you feed the convict cichlids a couple of times a day, because once this fish gets hungry, it may seek out nourishment in the form of other fishes' fins!
In most cases, the convict cichlid is a very affordable cichlid. Most pet stores choose to sell this cichlid anywhere from $4.00 to $7.00 apiece. And finding the convict cichlid shouldn't be too hard. Due to this cichlid's popularity, the convict cichlid is imported nearly year round to most pet stores. You may find the convict cichlid available under a number of different alias: the black convict cichlid, the blue convict cichlid, the pink convict cichlid or the zebra cichlid. Whatever the name, you should try to give this little sex-crazed aqua-criminal a little "home detention" with a place in your home aquarium! Just keep the guards and the dip nets on hand! You never know when you might have to break up a riot in this fish's "cell"!
Convict Cichlid, Zebra Cichlid
"Cichlasoma" (Archocentrus) nigrofasciatum | Pictures
SYN: Astronotus nigrofaciatus, Heros nigrofasciatum
PD: A moderately elongated, laterally compressed cichlid with an oval body shape. Eight or nine transverse bars mark the body. These are sometimes broken. The body color is white to very light gray. The dorsal fin may be yellow to iridescent green, and the other fins can have a green tint. The head is slight gray. The belly may have orange or pink scales.
SIZE: Males to 6" (15 cm), females to 5" (12 cm)
SS: C. spilurum
HAB: The Convict Cichlid comes from a number of varied biotopes. Central America; from Lake Atitlan and Lake Amatitlan in Guatemala south to Panama
S: bottom, middle
TANK: 30" (76 cm) with a volume of 20-25 gallons (57-98 L) is sufficient for a pair. Use a cover of floating plants and provide plenty of hiding places with over-turned flower pots, driftwood, roots, caves, and rocks. This cichlid eats plants and burrows in the gravel.
WATER: pH 6.5-8.8 (7.0), dH 4-20 (10), 68-81°F (20-27°C)
SB: An aggressive fish despite its size. It is best not to keep an unstable pair in solitude, for the weaker of the mates likely be killed. Try raising a group of fish from youth to get the best pairings. Combine with other similarly sized cichlids. The pairs form nuclear families. The Convict Cichlid is not well suited for the "typical" community tank containing tetras and livebearers.
SC: Cichlasomines, other South American cichlids, Loricarids, Pimelodids, large Characins, Hemichromis, Tilapia.
FOOD: Algae; live; worms, insets, insect larvae, crustaceans; pellet; flake; plant matter; vegetables; chopped meat.
SEX: The males are generally larger, have larger fins, and a steeper forehead. Females are usually more colorful especially during the spawning season when she develops a yellow-orange underside which serves to attract the brood. Males have a pointed genital papilla.
B: A compatible pair is easy to breed. Spawning conditions can be easily brought about by the feeding of Brine Shrimp and bloodworms. Spawning takes place in a cave or on a previously cleaned, flat rock. The eggs are guarded by both parents. The fry are free-swimming 6-8 days after hatching. The parents continue brood care for 3-4 weeks, although commercially bred parents are less protective of their free-swimming fry. Start feeding with microworms, Artemia nauplii, and fine grade dry food.
BP: 4. Breeding is easy and usually inevitable in a tank with several males and females.
R: Most fish now available are captive bred and successive generations have lost their natural coloring. Try to find wild-caught pair. The color of a fish varies according to its geographical population. Four color variants are now commonly available: An "albino" form, a pink strain, a gold variation, and a bizarre multicolored morph. Other species in the Archocentrus group include C. sajica, C. septemfaciatum, C. spilurum, and C. spinosissimus.
DC: 4. This fish should occasionally be fed live foods. The Convict Cichlid is an aggressive fish.
Quick Stats
Scientific Name: Cryptoheros Nigrofasciatus, Archocentrus Nigrofasciatus, Cichlasoma Nigrofasciatus, Heros Nigrofasciatus, Astronotus Nigrfasciatus
Distribution: Central America - Pacific side from Guatemala to Costa Rica , Atlantic side from Honduras to Panama
Size: Up to 6"/15cm (females usually smaller)
Common Names: Convict Cichlid, Zebra Cichlid
Temperature: 70 to 80f/21-27C
pH: 7.0 (although a very wide range will be tolerated)
General Characteristics
Feisty, aggressive and full of personality, Convicts are one of the most commonly available fish in the hobby. With their ease of breeding, these pocket-sized monsters from Central America are often referred to as the "rabbits" of the fish world. One male Convict plus one female Convict equals babies on a regular basis, usually every 4 to 6 weeks, for the rest of your original pairs life. Pound for pound, Convicts are one of the most aggressive of all Central American cichlids, but this is often overlooked, due to their small size. Spawning time is when you will see the most aggression, and I have heard of Convict pairs taking down full grown Oscar's more than twice their size. These are n ot community fish and cannot be considered safe unless a very large tank is involved.
Several color morphs now exist for Convicts. The regular "black" Convict with its bright grey background and black stripes, the "pink" Convict which are stripe-less and have a base color ranging from white to a light pink and the "marbled" or "calico" convict which shows mottled patches of the "black" and the "pink" coloration's. Black and Pink Convicts are the most commonly available. Difference in color, however, does not mean a difference in personality, and all Convicts exhibit the same aggressive nature.
Aquarium Set Up
The minimum tank size for a pair of Convicts is 30 gallons/114 litres, although they will be more comfortable in a tank of 40 gallons/152 litres or more. In the wild, Convicts inhabit fast flowing streams and rivers in Central America , and tanks should be set up to emulate this type of environment. Very fine gravel or sand makes a good substrate, as Convicts, like most cichlids, are diggers. If gravel is used, then care should be take to make sure it is rounded and smooth, otherwise your Convicts could damage their mouths. Pieces of driftwood and large rocks are good decorations, rocks are particularly good if stacked, as this will provide spaces for your Convicts to dig out protected spawning pits. Plants can be used, but be warned, they will probably be dug up on a regular basis. Many people use terracotta pots in their Convict tanks to provide a place for their pairs to spawn, as Convicts will either spawn in pits dug in the substrate or in caves. Make sure that any pots that you use in your tank are unglazed and cleaned well before they are added to the tank.
Filtration is important, as with all cichlids. Convicts are typical cichlids when it comes to their food, messy eaters capable of spreading leftovers all over the tank. Many people might tell you that it is not essential to be as careful with your water parameters with Convicts as you need to be with other larger cichlids, but this is not the case. Yes, Convicts are far more tolerant of bad water conditions than other cichlids, but that does not mean that you can neglect your tank maintenance. As will any fish, growth and development will be adversely affected by bad water conditions, and just because your Convicts can survive doesn't mean that they are happy. You should be maintaining your tank at the same level as you would for any other cichlid.
Feeding
Convicts are true omnivores, eating anything and everything they can fit into their mouths. Their diet in their natural habitat consists of small insects, crustaceans, plant matter and small fish if they can catch them. Variation in diet is essential as with all cichlids, and the beefheart recipe makes a good basis for your Convicts diet. They can also be fed high quality flake and pellets, spirulina flake, frozen foods such as bloodworms, daphnia and brine shrimp, and live small insects. It is important to make sure that a good portion of your Convicts diet consists of vegetable matter, as a diet of pure protein can lead to a shortened lifespan due to internal problems. Much like people, high protein diets in Convicts can cause kidney and liver problems in your fish. Many people also offer raw vegetables to their Convicts, such as zucchini, spinach and romaine lettuce.
Compatibility
Compatibility with Convicts depends on tank size and the sex of your Convicts. Pairs should be kept in their own tank, the very aggressive nature of these fish when spawning means that even the smallest of tankmates will be chased and killed if possible. Even armored catfish, such a plecostomus species', will not be tolerated.
If keeping a single Convict, then tankmates can be considered as tank size permits. Males tend to be more aggressive than females, but even a male Convict can be added to a large tank with other much larger, more aggressive cichlids. They are quite capable of holding their own against Oscars, Jack Dempsey's, Green Terrors and other similar sized cichlids. Females are somewhat less aggressive and can be introduced into tanks with smaller cichlids and some community tanks. Without the spawning-induced protectiveness, Convicts are generally well behaved in mixed tanks.
Breeding
Breeding Convicts is as easy as adding a male, a female and water. Sexing Convicts is still relatively easy, although inbreeding is starting to make that a little more difficult. Females are usually a lot smaller than males, and will show orange/red markings on their bellies. This can range from small spots to an overall blush that can cover the entire belly. Males are generally much larger than females and will show long extensions on their dorsal and anal fins. Males will also sometimes show the orange markings on their belly just like females, but they are usually far smaller and much less prominent that on females. Females will also sometimes show the long fin extensions that males do, but this is fairly uncommon. The best way to find yourself a pair of Convicts is to raise between 6 and 10 fish from juveniles together and let a bond develop. This should happen when the fish reach between 1.5 and 2". The other fish should be returned to the petshop at this point, otherwise carnage will ensue.
Spawning usually takes place in pits dug into the substrate or in a cave if one is provided. Eggs generally number between 100 and 500. After fertilization, the eggs will be guarded by the female while the male patrols and defends the pair's territory. This is not a good time to be putting your hands in the tank for any reason, as Convicts have no problems attempting to remove fingers if you make the mistake of getting too close. Unfortunately, too close often means just looking at the tank. Convicts are one of the few cichlids that don't need more that one or two attempts to get the hang of being parents. Most pairs will get it right on the first spawning and will be excellent parents to all their spawns. Once the eggs have hatched after 2 to 3 days, the parents will transfer them to other small pits dug in the substrate around the tank. Both parents will continue to be extremely protective, defending their offspring against anything else that happens to be in the tank and many things that are just passing by outside the tank. Convict fry tend to be a little adventuresome and will take to wandering around the tank at an early age. The parents will attempt to keep them close by for the first few weeks and don't' be surprised if you see either parent picking up the fry in their mouths and spitting them back into the pit. After 2 to 4 weeks, the parents will probably be ready to spawn again and at this point it can be a good idea to remove the previous spawn if you have them in a small tank. Sometimes the parents will try to remove a previous spawn to make room for the next batch, but this doesn't always happen and the best idea is simply to watch the tank and see what your pair does.
Scientific Name: Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS): 169777
Other scientific names appearing in the literature of this species:
Archocentrus nigrofasciatus, Astronotus nigrofasciatum, and Heros nigrofasciatus (Riehl and Baensch, 1991; Sakurai et al., 1992).
Common Name: Convict cichlid, zebra cichlid
Distinguishing Features:
According to Page and Burr, 1991, the convict cichlid can be distinguished by the presence of seven black bars along its sides, extending on to its dorsal and anal fins and a characteristic black spot on the upper portion of its operculum. Large males have intense black bars on the underside of their heads and elongate rays on the posterior portion of their dorsal and anal fins. Females may be orange or red in some populations, and there are reports of albino populations established in other regions of the United States
Similar Species:
Similar species include the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus, which can be distinguished by a lower number of anal spines (6-8 as opposed to 9-11 of the convict cichlid) and a higher number of dorsal rays (10-13 as opposed to 7-9). The black acara, Cichlasoma bimaculatum, which lacks black bars on its sides and has only 4 anal spines (Page and Burr, 1991).
Biology:
Over its native range this species is common in slow and fast moving rivers and streams, and can be found over most any bottom (Bussing, 1987). Barlow (1976) reported convict cichlids as the most ubiquitous cichlid species of Nicaraguan rivers and streams.
Temperature Tolerance: Although data on its cold tolerance is scarce, temperature is probably a limiting factor for the establishment of this species in the Gulf drainages.
Reproduction and Fecundity: Males are larger but less colorful than females. Males develop a fatty lump on their foreheads as well as orange colored scales on their flanks with age (Riehl and Baensch, 1991). Mackereth and Keenleyside (1993) and Wissenden (1994), have documented the breeding habits of this species. The convict cichlid is sexually dimorphic. Females begin pair formation by following males. Breeding pairs are monogamous. They construct nest caves, usually under rocks, the day of spawning. Sedletskiy (1995) however, reported males to build the nests and later attract females through visual displays. McKay (1977) reported a preference for building nests among weed beds. Both sexes are highly aggressive towards conspecifics, as well as toward individuals of other species. Eggs are laid on rocks, with both parents participating in their protection. Eggs hatch in approximately three days, and fry emerge from within the nest in 5 days, measuring about 5 mm. There are reports of breeding pairs occasionally adapting and rearing fry from other pairs (Fraser et al., 1993; Fraser, 1996). Convict cichlid families forage during the day, retreating to their nests at night. Fry become independent at about 10 mm. An average of 30 fry are reared to independence per breeding pair.
Trophic Interactions: This species is omnivorous, and has been described as mostly piscivorous (Fraser et al., 1993), as well as mostly herbivorous (McKaye, 1977). Bussing (1987) reported food items over its native range to include aquatic insects, seeds, leaves, and detritus. Fry and juveniles have been reported as voracious piscivores, frequently feeding on smaller size classes of their same species (Fraser et al., 1993). McKaye (1977) reported the formation of transitory feeding territories for fishes in Lake Jiloa , Nicaragua
Maximum Size:
Convict cichlids are relatively small, typically growing to 80-90 mm SL with a maximum of 150 mm SL in the Gulf drainages (Axelrod et al., 1971; Lee et al., 1980; Riehl and Baensch, 1991).
Distribution:
The native range of the convict cichlid extends from the Pacific coast of Guatemala through the Pacific and Atlantic coast of Costa Rica , to the Pacific coast of Panama Gulf states , this species has been reported from fresh waters around Miami , Dade county, Florida
