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No federal permit to keep

Convict cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Also known as Convict

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

The convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Intermediate

Convict cichlid — Photo: (c) Konstantin Gerasimov, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

Photo: (c) Konstantin Gerasimov, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist

FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 5.9 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 3.3 in / 8.5 cm; the largest recorded was 3.9 in).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 68–97°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 7–8.
Hardness: 9–20 dGH.
Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
Diet: Eats a varied diet: mix quality prepared foods with frozen and live foods. FishBase classes it as a omnivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–82 °F, pH 6–8, 5–25 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial; in a pair; not a community fish.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Use rocks, bogwood and roots to provide plenty of hiding places and potential spawning sites for the fish.”
Diet: “Very unfussy and will accept most foods offered.”
Tankmates: “Simply put, not a good community fish.”
Breeding: “One of the most easily-bred species in the hobby, it's ideal for the newcomer to cichlids and fish breeding in general.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Central and South American cichlids

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rivers and lakes of the Americas. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Size ranges widely, from convicts at 5 in to Parachromis over 20 in; plan tank size for the adult fish.
Most tolerate neutral, moderately hard water; strong filtration and rock or wood caves.

Sources 117 119 164

Climate & lighting

Water

75–82°F

Sources 117 119 164

Diet

Omnivorous cichlid pellets plus vegetables for herbivores (Vieja, Uaru) and meaty foods for predators (Parachromis).

Sources 117 119 164

Social life

Territorial; breeding pairs can clear a whole tank.

Sources 117 119 164

Health watch

Aggression and territorial injuries, especially when breeding; hole-in-the-head in poor water.

Sources 117 119 164

Understanding the animal

About this animal

Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Convict cichlid” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams, lakes. Uses both the bottom and open water. Adults inhabit flowing water from small creeks and streams to the shallows of large and fast flowing rivers.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 68–97 °F (20–36 °C), pH 7–8, hardness 9–20 dH.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: nesters, biparental parental care.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 68–97 °F.
Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.

FishBase species summary: Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 90°F (up to 95°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 58°F (down to 47°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	71–77°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	70–80% on average (driest month about 67%)
Rainfall	about 1727 mm a year

Measured at 41 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Wild diet	In natural habitats, the species has an omnivorous diet composed of plants, algae and various prey including small fish, crustaceans, insects and worms. The fish can protrude its jaw 4.2% of its standard length, allowing it to have a varied diet. Inferior social status and associated stress can affect digestive function in convict cichlids. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Reproduction	Lays eggs on cleaned surfaces of rocks. Parents incubate eggs and guard young. Tends and fans the embryos and free embryos and transfers them several times into new pits excavated in the bottom using its mouth (huddling). — FishBase
Appearance and size	The wild-type of the species has 8 or 9 black vertical bars on a blue-grey body, along with a dark blotch on the operculum. Juvenile convict cichlids are monomorphic until they reach sexual maturity. The male is mostly gray with light black stripes along the body. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Biology	Adults inhabit flowing water from small creeks and streams to the shallows of large and fast flowing rivers. Prefer rocky habitats and finds sanctuary in the various cracks and crevices provided by this type of environment, or among roots and debris. They occur in warm pools of springs and their effluents. — FishBase
History and naming	Albert Günther originally described the species in 1867 after Frederick DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin collected specimens in Central America. In 2007, the species was moved from the genus Archocentrus to a new genus, Amatitlania, based on Juan Schmitter-Soto's study of Archocentus species. — Wikipedia (community-edited)

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources4.6–4.9in

FishBase 1643.3–3.9

Seriously Fish species profiles 1675.9

Common length to maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources71.5–89.5°F

FishBase 16468–97

Seriously Fish species profiles 16775–82

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources6.5–8

FishBase 1647–8

Seriously Fish species profiles 1676–8

Water hardness

Average of sources7–22.5dGH

FishBase 1649–20

Seriously Fish species profiles 1675–25

Veterinary & husbandry research

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on survival rate and growth performance of Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) Mohammadi F et al., Iranian journal of veterinary research 2015
Anesthetic Efficiency of Three Medicinal Plant Oils for Aquatic Species: Coriander Coriandrum sativum, Linaloe Tree Bursera delpechiana, and Lavender Lavandula hybrida Can E et al., Journal of aquatic animal health 2019
A potential role of nettle (Urtica dioica) extract on growth, biochemical changes and reproductive performance of convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) Jafari N et al., Fish physiology and biochemistry 2022
Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the hepcidin gene from the convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) and its expression pattern in response to lipopolysaccharide challenge Chi JR et al., Fish physiology and biochemistry 2015

Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. See all 5 on PubMed → 170

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=highly commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding; aquarium reproduction record)
234 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.