A hardy, boldly barred Central American cichlid named for its black-and-grey 'jailbird' stripes. Famously easy to keep and breed, but extremely territorial — best known as the fish that taught many hobbyists how prolific and feisty cichlids can be.
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Males to about 6 in (15 cm); females smaller at roughly 4 in (10 cm).
Lifespan
8–10 years
Social needs
pair
Native region
Central America (Pacific and Atlantic slopes of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica)
Origin
New World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Water type
💧 Freshwater
Family
Cichlidae
Genus
Amatitlania
Part of the Cichlids
Cichlids are a large, behaviorally complex family of freshwater fish prized for color, intelligence, and elaborate parental care. They range from peaceful dwarfs to highly territorial Rift Lake and Central American species, and most demand stable water chemistry and thoughtful tankmate selection.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Pair tank
40 gal / 151 L long
Amatitlania nigrofasciata is a small (4–5 in) but very aggressive Central American cichlid. 40-gal long for a single pair, with caves, smooth décor, and hardy tankmates only — they are notorious for breeding nonstop and bullying.
Recommended
Pair with tankmates
55 gal / 208 L long
55-gal long for a bonded pair plus carefully chosen tougher tankmates and lots of line-of-sight breaks. Will breed in almost any conditions — expect constant fry.
KoS / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ideal
Central American biotope
75 gal+ / 284 L+ biotope
75-gal+ Central American biotope with rockwork, multiple caves, robust filtration, and compatible cichlid neighbours. Excellent parental behaviour displayed.
PlanespotterA320 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Fish eggs are small, translucent spheres, often laid in clutches on plants, substrate, or in a nest — or carried/brooded by a parent in livebearing and mouth-brooding species. A dark eye spot and the curled embryo become visible inside as development progresses.
Photo coming soon
Fry
Newly hatched fry are tiny and semi-transparent, frequently still carrying a yolk sac that fuels them before they feed freely. They lack full fin structure and adult coloration, staying near cover until they can swim and forage on their own.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles look like miniature adults but with developing fins and muted or different markings; many species shift pattern and color as they mature. Growth is rapid at this stage given clean water and steady feeding.
Adult
Adults show the species' full size, finnage, and mature coloration, and are sexually mature. Many fish develop sex-specific differences in size, color, or fin shape, which can intensify during breeding.
Color & pattern variants
Natural variants occur in the wild; selectively bred (man-made) variants were developed in captivity.
A single pair needs a minimum of 30 gallons (about 110 L); larger footprints reduce aggression and allow tankmates. Keep temperatures at 70-82°F (21-28°C), pH 6.5-8.0, and moderate to hard water (10-20 dGH). They are unfussy about water chemistry but appreciate stable parameters and clean water.
Provide plenty of caves, rockwork, driftwood, and flowerpots to break up sightlines and offer breeding sites. Moderate flow and standard community lighting are fine; hardy plants like Anubias or Java fern attached to wood survive their digging better than rooted stems.
Substrate
Use fine to medium sand or smooth gravel, as convicts dig and rearrange the substrate, particularly when preparing to spawn. A bed deep enough to excavate, anchored by heavy rock piles set on the glass, lets them landscape without toppling decor.
Equipment & setup
A robust hang-on-back or canister filter handles their heavy waste load; aim for good mechanical and biological filtration. Use a reliable heater and standard aquarium lighting. No specialized gear is required, making them an excellent first cichlid.
Diet
Convicts are opportunistic omnivores that eat almost anything. Feed a staple of quality cichlid pellets or flakes, supplemented with frozen or live bloodworms, brine shrimp, and the occasional blanched vegetable matter such as spinach or peas.
Feed once or twice daily in small amounts and avoid overfeeding, as they will gorge. A varied diet supports good color and condition, especially in breeding adults.
Behavior & temperament
Bold, intelligent, and highly territorial, especially when paired and guarding fry — a breeding pair will harass or kill much larger fish. Best kept as a single pair in a species tank, or with robust tankmates (other Central American cichlids, larger plecos) only in a spacious, well-decorated aquarium. Not suitable for peaceful community setups.
They are devoted, attentive parents and form strong pair bonds. Expect frequent spawning and intense parental defense of territory.
Health
Very hardy and disease-resistant when water is clean. Watch for ich (white spot) and hole-in-the-head/HLLE linked to poor water quality, diet deficiency, or activated-carbon stress. Aggression injuries (torn fins, mouth damage) are the most common real-world problem, so manage stocking carefully.
Tips, DIY & hacks
If you do not want fry, keep a single fish or a same-sex pair — a true pair will spawn readily and repeatedly. Pull or rehome excess young early; their fecundity outpaces most hobbyists' capacity. A divider or grow-out tank helps manage aggression and surplus broods.
