Convict Cichlids

Male Convict Cichlid © Derreck Friday

Convicts

How to tell the of sex Convict Cichlids.
Notice the longer fins and larger body size of the male.

Species/genus: Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum

Origin:   Central America

Temp:  68 - 82°F (20 - 28°C)

pH and dH:    Not really important

Temperament:   very aggressive when spawning, not a community fish

Adult Size:   Up to 6 inches    (15 cm) normally smaller

Minimum Tank Size:  10 Gallons

Feeding:   Omnivorous, eats everything

Breeding:   Prolific, a very easy species to induce to spawn, an excellent first Cichlid for beginners to spawn. Convicts might be the easiest egglayer to spawn with the possible exception of the White Cloud Minnow

Comments:

An aggressive fish that likes to rearrange the tank decoration to suit itself. Not a community tank candidate as they will eat any small fish they can catch (with the exception of their own fry). Very good parents, they will spawn continuously. There is an albino variety that seems to be somewhat more docile.