How big does Convict Cichlid get?

Convict Cichlid reaches an adult standard length of 10–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Convict Cichlid need?

22–28 °C, pH 6.5–8, 5–20 dGH, 4–12 dKH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

What is the smallest tank for Convict Cichlid?

At least 100 L, and no shorter than 80 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Convict Cichlid like to keep?

Temperament: aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the bottom and is omnivore. With plants it is "Eats plants".

Can Convict Cichlid be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Convict Cichlid and Guppy is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 25Freshwater

Convict Cichlid九间菠萝

Amatitlania nigrofasciata · Cichlidae

The striped Central American cichlid: hardy and easy, and the quickest way to kill small fish and uproot plants.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 25 · Convict Cichlid Amatitlania nigrofasciata

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 九间菠萝
Scientific name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Family: Cichlidae
Origin: Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica)
Adult size: 10–15 cm
Temperament: Aggressive
Diet: Omnivore
Water level: Bottom
Level: Beginner
Min. tank: 100 L
Min. length: 80 cm
Plant safe: Eats plants

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.22–28 °C

pH6.5–8

Hardness5–20 dGH

Alkalinity4–12 dKH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Pairs breed fast and claim the whole bottom within weeks, driving off anything that comes near.
2Digs pits and uproots plants, so landscape with rock, wood and attached plants only.
3Openly aggressive and lethal to small fish; house it only with equally tough cichlids of similar size.
4Fine at 22-28 °C in neutral to alkaline hard water; omnivorous on plain pellets.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Convict Cichlid against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Convict Cichlid get?: Convict Cichlid reaches an adult standard length of 10–15 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Convict Cichlid need?: 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–8, 5–20 dGH, 4–12 dKH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
What is the smallest tank for Convict Cichlid?: At least 100 L, and no shorter than 80 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Convict Cichlid like to keep?: Temperament: aggressive. Difficulty: beginner. It occupies the bottom and is omnivore. With plants it is "Eats plants".
Can Convict Cichlid be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Convict Cichlid and Guppy is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.