Convict Cichlids

Keeping Convict Cichlids

It has been called the Zebra Cichlid very often, although it is known as the convict cichlid. We must not confuse it with an African Zebra Cichlid, which is totally different though. You will find that the convict cichlid has black stripes set upon a gray background and a greenish hue upon its fins. You will also find that the convict cichlid is surely one of the most easy to keep fishes.

So, it is an ideal fish for beginners. Their name obviously comes from the beautiful colouring and stripes on their back.

The Gender Of Your Fish

The male will always be larger, he has a flatter forehead, his colours are less bright and it has longer fins. You can tell which one is the female by the orange colouring on the lower part of her body. With the passage of time, the male will grow a large lump on its forehead. You may also see an albino or pinkish type.

The albino variation of the colour has lead to the name of Ivory Cichlid and the pink variation has lead to the name Pink Convict. These other, rarer types are known to be more difficult to breed, but so long as you have plenty of patience, keep the fish well fed, their water clear and clean, you should succeed in making them breed eventually.

It is a wonderful addition for any aquarium, but you should be careful if you plan to put the convict cichlid in a crowded tank. It does have a tendency to be aggressive. You should get them a large tank, of at least 30 gallons, put some gravel on the bottom, some rocks, plants and lots of places for it to hide, perhaps some pots or cups.

Some floating plants might be a good choice as well. As said before, the convict cichlid is an aggressive type so you should house it only with similar aggressive fish that are about its size or larger.

Ideal Conditions

The convict cichlid will thrive in various conditions and is known to be a cave breeder. It’s adaptability to any conditions makes it the most suitable fish for beginner aquarists.

The temperature of the water should be kept a little above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the females have been seen to spawn between some caves and any open area. The convict cichlid forms a sort of family, each of the two parents having specific roles in the care of the young. Their fry will be sensitive to the calls of both the mother and the father.

Do not forget to decorate the aquarium you intend to use for keeping your convict cichlids with some plants and a rock or perhaps two.

Get used to the idea that most of the plants will definitely be destroyed by then eventually, but they are nice to have so you should get some that can endure more, like java ferns and Amazonian swords. As for food, the convict cichlid will eat most foods as it is omnivorous. Cichlid pellets, tubifex, plankton or even frozen blood worms.