Amatitlania nigrofasciata, the Convict Cichlid, is one of the most widely kept cichlids in the freshwater hobby. Native to the Pacific coast of Central America from Guatemala to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, it inhabits fast to moderately flowing rocky streams, rivers, and lakes with clear, moderately hard water. It is highly adaptable and has established feral populations in several countries outside its native range.
The Convict Cichlid is a medium-sized, laterally compressed fish reaching up to 15 cm. The body is pale grey-blue to silver with eight to nine bold black vertical bars running across the flanks, creating the characteristic striped convict pattern. Females, unusually among cichlids, are often more colorful than males, displaying a distinctive orange-pink patch on the lower flanks and belly.
Convict Cichlids have an outsized personality for their size. They are bold, fearless, and highly aggressive toward tankmates during breeding, often attacking fish many times their size. Despite this, they are excellent cichlids for beginners due to their extraordinary hardiness, tolerance of a wide range of water parameters, and highly reliable breeding behavior.
Pairs form strong bonds and are exceptional parents. They spawn readily in the home aquarium, with little encouragement, and will aggressively defend eggs and fry. The species is ideal for hobbyists wishing to observe full cichlid breeding behavior in a modestly sized tank.
