Breeding convict cichlid fish is as easy as it gets! A popular aquarium fish which requires high temperature to maintain itself in an environment, e.g51539). The average convict cichlid size is around 4-5 inches when fully grown.These fish are rather small compared to other cichlid species. The Black Convict Cichlid is a beautifully marked cichlid. The Convict Cichlid owes its name to its coloration, in that it Therefore, ensure the water temperature is around 26–29 °C. While setting up an aquarium for the Convict Cichlid, you should consider their natural habitat conditions. Read more…. For your aquarium, you can use stones or plant pots to make breeding sites for the Convict Cichlid. The female Convict Cichlid tends to stay nearer the eggs and the fry. Convict Cichlid are naturally omnivorous, they eat both meat and plant matter. Convict Cichlid for Sale : SKU. Sometimes called Zebra Cichlid or Convict Cichlid, this fish has a pattern of black stripes on a grayish background and a greenish tint on the fins. Females will have more vibrant coloration than a male. Convict Cichlid may appear to have a timid temperate, but looks are deceiving, because they are very aggressive. The colouring of the male is monotone while the female has an orangish patch on her stomach. Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) enjoys a fine substrate, and plenty of rocks, as the female will spawn either on the substrate or on rocks within caves which she will prepare for the purpose. I really enjoy the aquarium hobby and love sharing my experience with others. Will she lay eggs without a male convict in the tank? The common Convict Cichlid (the black Convict Cichlid) has black and light markings on a white background. They are generally good feeders that will eat anything given to them in the aquarium. The last guy's advice was not good in my opinion. This is when the level of predation is lower than normal because the group size is larger. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Convict Cichlid Size The male convict cichlid grows up to 6 inches in length, while the female grows to an average length of 4 inches. Convict Cichlid are easy to keep type of fish, they are good feeders, eat a variety of food, adapt well in a variety of water conditions and are easy to breed and known to be great parents. If you’re thinking of breeding some Convict Cichlids, it’s not terribly difficult. That's one of the cichlid species that has been cross bred with different varieties of cichlids in order to achieve this characteristic. Female convict cichlid usually stays with the fry moving them, fanning them & placing them in a nest. Convict Cichlids can start to produce from a young age, and do not require a specific breeding mate. I also have mine in a 20gallon. The female will fan the eggs while the male protects the nest and guards the outside. Convict Cichlids, also known as zebra cichlids due to their beautiful black and white stripes, are an ideal fish for beginners. They fan the eggs and protect them from predators. Although a male will pack a larger anal fin. These fish are extremely territorial, and can be hostile and downright aggressive to other fish who dare to enter their territory. She first chooses a dark spot, then courts the male before laying her eggs on the side of a clay pottery piece or on flat rocks. Although, anymore you can find pink, white and gold Convict Cichlids. The young will hatch out between 48 and 72 hours depending on the temperature and acidity. Convict Cichlid female convict cichlid Feb 26, 2012 fishnet Member I have a female convict in a community cichlid tank. However, in an aquarium, the female can breed as many times as possible, so long as the conditions are suitable. Both parents also secrete a mucus-like substance on their bodies; this can be supplementary food for the fry. 44091). Convict cichlids occupy a strange niche between peaceful and aggressive fish. 38966). This fish is monotone in color, with the female having an orange patch on her stomach. Naturally, the female Convict Cichlid takes the initiative during the mating cycle. But if a convict cichlid is placed with an aggressive fish, the convict will likely be harassed and may spend all its […] Pictures. Convict Cichlid are very aggressive. The female Convict Cichlid are brighter in colour, and they develop yellow or red spots on their belly as soon as they become sexually mature. The male will then position himself vertically and change to darker, more vivid shades of colour. They will reclaim any fry that strays from the nest, and the male will harmfully guard them to the death. With that said, they may end up eating the aquatic plant in the tank. You can adopt the standard three meals a day rather than one big sized portion once in a day. They are 3 days old here. Located in Campbellville Favourite. In the wild, female convict cichlids lay their eggs on rocks or inside caves. Please always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. The first rule is to ensure the Cichlid are not kept in a tank that has smaller or less aggressive fish. While they aren’t fussy about where they lay their eggs, they do like to do so in a bit of cover. If one of the parents is removed, the remaining parent can perform all the task that pertain to taking care of the eggs or the fry. Convict cichlid Upload your photos and videos Pictures | Videos | Google image. They reach a maximum length of 12 cm (4.7 inches) with males being larger than females. The female Cichlids have more stripes than male fish. With interbreeding, there are now several colour varieties of this fish. The White Convict Cichlid or Pink Convict Cichlid are imitating albino varieties that are cream and pink, and lack the distinctive vertical bars. If you want such couple to be created in a tank, you need to keep a small school of the fish with equal number of male and female in it. or Best Offer +$15.05 shipping. The Convict Cichlid is also known as Zebra Cichlid because of its vertical white and black stripes. The Pink Convict is a pseudo-albino of the Convict Cichlid. Names & Comments . They also acquire a vestigial fatty lump on their foreheads. Here's a closer view of the female Convict carefully watching over her babies on the rock. The male Convict Cichlid is most likely to take dominance in a tank. At the age of seven months, they are old enough to start their own families. Their name, Convict Cichlid, arises from the broad, dark vertical lines running down their body, making them similar in appearance to the traditional "jailbird" outfit. 10 Live Convict cichlid fish Fry Unsexed .30-.50" Very Healthy Size varies Tiny . The convict cichlid male and female species, despite being monogamous, mate frequently. But, of course, you have to sex the fish to make sure you’re pairing them properly. Female convict cichlid moved most of her fry first time Little Fish Dog Fighting Cichlids Pose Reference Aquarium Handsome Creatures Dogs Animals Handsome Male Zebra/Convict cichlid! Ensure the tank has lots of rocks and plants to keep the fish comfortable, and the water current is slow. An adult Convict Cichlid has around eight or nine white stripes across its grey body. The pair will sway their heads at each other in a little pre-spawning dance. Buy It Now +$60.00 shipping. Same pair of Convict Cichlids with a closer view of their fry. However, the young ones should be of the same size or smaller otherwise they will be perceived as predators. The females have an orange colour on their dorsal fins and lower bodies. Sexing a Black Convict Cichlid. [1][17] The body weight of the fish is about 34–36 grams (1.2–1.3 They often reach 15cm (6 in.). Sexually mature female Convict Cichlid lay eggs in caves. They are have more intense and bright black strips compared to their male … They are regularly aggressive toward those of the same species, especially when mating. They show their aggression by biting and swimming towards their target at a very high speed in an attempt to chase them away. Male Convicts will range between 5 to 6 inches in length, while females will range between 3- 4 inches in That is why its also known as zebra cichlids. Your email address will not be published. The minimum tank size for a Convict Cichlid male and female is 30 gallons. This isn’t the best fish to keep with others, issues can and will arise. The female Convict Cichlid protects the eggs while the male Convict Cichlid guards the general perimeter. The daily temperature for the Convict Cichlid in their natural habitat is around 26–29 °C which is 79–84 °F. At first it seemed as though the larger female would bully the smaller one for the first few months. Hey, I'm Fabian, chief editor at Aquarium Nexus. In addition to the pellets and flakes, you can add fresh or frozen live foods such as Daphnia, Brine Shrimp, or black and blood worms, and blanched vegetables such as carrots, lettuce or broccoli. Sometimes called Zebra Cichlid or Convict Cichlid, this fish has a pattern of black stripes on a grayish background and a greenish tint on the fins. Date Added: 11/6/2020 - Updated: 11/6/2020 10:58:05 PM. $539.95. However, they have learned over time to survive in a variety of water conditions. The female has orange scales on her lower body and dorsal fins and the male is larger, less colorful, has a steeper forehead and longer fins. In addition, stress or unfavourable living conditions can also lead to increased aggression for a Convict Cichlid. Switch for a female would be better, or even better, keep your favorite male and try some quick dither fish like swordtails. However, since your aim is to raise a healthy Convict Cichlid, ensure their food has all the nutrition value they require for their growth. The convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. All you have to do is keep a male and female species together, and provide them with an adequate water supply and suitable temperature, they will rapidly multiply. Approximately 100-150 eggs are deposited and are vigorously guarded and cared for by both male and female (Ref. The advantage of this is it means you can keep them in smaller tanks than other species as well. Also offer them blanched lettuce or other veggies, as well as live and frozen fare such as mosquito larvae, Blood Worms, Black Worms, Daphnia and Brine Shrimp as this will allow the fish to develop their best colours and condition. The Convict Cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata, is a great Cichlid for any experience level aquarist, and is a hardy fish but with a rambunctious temperament. Convict Cichlid prefer living in slow moving water that mostly has sunken branches and rocks that they use for shelter and hiding. Convict Cichlids start spawning at a very young age, and when they do, they will breed with any female Convict Cichlid in the vicinity. The aggression is evident through harassing or bitting other fish in the tank. This method will continue until there are no more eggs left to lay. We know the sizes convict cichlids can grow to as a species, and their average temperament. Myself William and I love aquarium fishes! Description: The name convict cichlid describes these beautiful fish and its black stripes on a white background very accurately. #convictcichlids #fishkeeping. A mature male Convict Cichlid is longer, approximately 6 inches, while the female is around 4.5 inches long. Recently, they started doing circles around each other, bumping each other and now it appears they follow each other every minute. results showed that the convict cichlid males preferred to consort with the largest available female, even when that female was larger than the male himself. Buy It Now. William Smith. Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica in Central America. Convict Cichlid loves dwelling in slow-moving water on the bed of the rocky substrates. Convict Cichlids Breeding: Water Parameters, Tank Setup, Spawning, Oscar Fish – Habitat, Care, Feeding, Tank Size, Breeding, « 20+ Freshwater Shrimp Species – Complete List, Best 10-Gallon Aquarium Kits for Beginners ». When being just juveniles create stable couples. Females are easily distinguished from the larger growing, chunkier males by a orangey/red area coloration on the belly that will only become more larger in size and intense in coloration in readiness to spawn. Convict Cichlids can spawn from a very young age, and they do not require a suitable breeding mate. The eggs are attached on the walls of the caves or rocks. All about the Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania Nigrofasciata) fish. Convict Cichlid Tank Mates. The Convict Cichlid is a hardy fish with a rebellious attitude. The female Convict Cichlid will independently perform all the parental roles without any difficulty. 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