Convict Cichlid female convict cichlid Feb 26, 2012 fishnet Member I have a female convict in a community cichlid tank. These flakes and pellets are of high quality, produced to meet the all the nutrition necessities for the Cichlid. The large sized portion are not only a healthy issue for the fish, but it could also cause pollution, causing water destabilization in the tank. Convict Cichlid, Amatitlania nigrofasciata, Female. Your email address will not be published. They are 3 days old here. Jan 16, 2019 - Convict Cichlids otherwise known as Zebra Cichlids are low maintenance fish to keep. The White Convict Cichlid or Pink Convict Cichlid are imitating albino varieties that are cream and pink, and lack the distinctive vertical bars. Both parents remain active in taking care of the little Convict Cichlid. Approximately 100-150 eggs are deposited and are vigorously guarded and cared for by both male and female (Ref. Generally, convict cichlid female parents spend significantly more time within the nest compared to males, regardless of experimental condition (Snekser & Itzkowitz, 2009; Snekser & Itzkowitz, 2014; Snekser & Itzkowitz, 2019). Their exciting colours are suitable for an office or home aquarium for those who love to keep fish. It is relatively straightforward to distinguish males from females. They are regularly aggressive toward those of the same species, especially when mating. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. Convict cichlids can reach sexual maturity as young as 16 weeks, though it is more commonly attained at 6 months. A female convict cichlid can be identified easily from the male convict cichlid by a couple of things. Determining whether you have a male or female is easy Males are Adopting other young fish helps to give the Convict Cichlid the dilution effect advantage. If you are keeping the Convict Cichlid for breeding, it is important to note they become very aggressive during the breeding period. To feed your Convict Cichlid, we recommend the pellet or flakes that are specifically produced for Cichlid. However, the standard length has been reported to be 4.7 inches with a body weight of about 1.2. Tank Requirements for Convict Cichlid . The Black Convict Cichlid is a beautifully marked cichlid. The female Convict Cichlid protects the eggs while the male Convict Cichlid guards the general perimeter. Convict Cichlid - NEW FISH FACTS & TIPS in 2021 - Everything You Need To Know - water, ph, size, breeding, gender, varieties, tank mates, diet, colors, sexing Appearance Their … They inhabit a wide diversity of environments from ponds, streams and lakes to flowing waters of rivers as well as warm pools of springs. Convict Cichlid loves dwelling in slow-moving water on the bed of the rocky substrates. They spend most of the time hanging off this rock. This is when the most aggressive behavior of cichlids is observed. These fish reach 6" in adult The male Convict is above. Watch ; Pair black convict cichlids. Alternatively, you can remove the female or she may very well eat the young. This fish is monotone in color, with the female having an orange patch on her stomach. Hey, I'm Fabian, chief editor at Aquarium Nexus. 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. They also acquire a vestigial fatty lump on their foreheads. After 3 days of hatching, the larvae absorb yolk sacs and develop fins, making them free swimming fry. Convict Cichlids, also known as zebra cichlids due to their beautiful black and white stripes, are an ideal fish for beginners. How Do You Tell If A Convict Cichlid Is Male Or Female? Convict Cichlid - Hump on the Head In the aquarium world, when one talks about humps, the first thing that comes to mind, is the Flower horn. All about the Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania Nigrofasciata) fish. Breeding convict cichlid fish is as easy as it gets! The female helps out the fry by stirring up the sand with her stomach to uncover food that may have settled at the bottom of the tank, or by chewing up food that is too big and spitting it into the water for the babies to eat. These Cichlids are rarely found in open water and prefer to stay in areas containing cover in whatever form. Convicts are commonly found in streams and rivers, but it is also known to live in ponds and lakes with heavy plant cover. The male Convict Cichlid then fertilizes the eggs and after 4 days, you have over thirty little Convict Cichlid. This is when the level of predation is lower than normal because the group size is larger. Switch for a female would be better, or even better, keep your favorite male and try some quick dither fish like swordtails. Female convict cichlid usually stays with the fry moving them, fanning them & placing them in a nest. This will result in the male attacking the female. The male Convict Cichlid can grow up to 6 inches, whilst the female will grow to around 4.5 inches. A popular aquarium fish which requires high temperature to maintain itself in an environment, e.g51539). However they will re-arrange your tank, so be sure to secure your plants to the bottom of the tank. For The female will repeat the same dance and flare-up. Do not house them with fish that are peaceful, semi-aggressive, or large enough to swallow the Convict Cichlid whole. When in mating, they will kill anything in the tank if they can. In their natural habitat they mostly eat plant debris, small fish, worms, mosquito larvae and small insects. Convict Cichlid are very territorial and aggressive which makes them not fit in a community tank. The pair will sway their heads at each other in a little pre-spawning dance. The parents continue to fan the fry over the night as they protect them from predators or any other danger. They fan the eggs and protect them from predators. But if a convict cichlid is placed with an aggressive fish, the convict will likely be harassed and may spend all its […] Convict cichlids occupy a strange niche between peaceful and aggressive fish. No funny dancing, no chasing around the tank. The aggression is evident through harassing or bitting other fish in the tank. 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. By all means, feed After laying eggs, parents take care of them. The male Convict Cichlid exercises dominance in the tank making it difficult to live with other tank mates. At four natural habitats of the convict cichlid in Costa Rica, the pH was found to range from 6.6–7 3 Hola! While convict cichlids make great parents, it should be noted that once the fry start swimming around on their own, the father convict cichlid can become aggressive toward his own fry. The first rule is to ensure the Cichlid are not kept in a tank that has smaller or less aggressive fish. Therefore, ensure the water temperature is around 26–29 °C. I also have mine in a 20gallon. An adult Convict Cichlid has around eight or nine white stripes across its grey body. Convict Cichlid have a potential of adopting and giving parental care to unrelated young ones who are of the same species. The Convict Cichlid has a chunky oval disk shape body, with pointed anal and dorsal fins. $30.00. Buy It Now. We know the sizes convict cichlids can grow to as a species, and their average temperament. It is important to note that Convict Cichlid are omnivorous. The female Cichlids have more stripes than male fish. Convict Cichlid may appear to have a timid temperate, but looks are deceiving, because they are very aggressive. 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. Names & Comments . Convicts will take care of their young and the young stay with the parents in a group. These Cichlids have also been known to beat up large Oscars and plecos a lot bigger than them. To mimic this effect in your own tank, make sure you have plenty of rocky decorations or other structures, like castles or caves, to help them feel at home. The adult Convict Cichlid also fan the eggs, day and night, using their fins to ensure the eggs are well oxygenated. Convict Cichlid require low maintenance and are easy to keep, which makes them popular among beginners in fish keeping. The fry swim during the day in a group and return to the cave for the night. This can not only increase the number of fish in a tank, but some people also sell the fry to earn extra money. Convict Cichlid are very easy to breed type of fish. Your email address will not be published. But, of course, you have to sex the fish to make sure you’re pairing them properly. By all means, feed your Cichlids protein-rich foods because the female will need the extra nutrients to prepare her eggs. [1][17] The body weight of the fish is about 34–36 grams (1.2–1.3 Consequently, it can be a little challenging to sex the fish. Feeding the Cichlid should be done in small portions throughout the day. Read more…. Although, anymore you can find pink, white and gold Convict Cichlids. After choosing a dark hideout, the female courts the male and then lays her eggs on the flat stones or on the side of a pot. $539.95. Please always ask a veterinarian for help regarding your pets. Males will court the females, and they will form a bonded pair. Therefore, consider using plastic plants for the tank. Here's a closer view of the female Convict carefully watching over her babies on the rock. For your aquarium, you can use stones or plant pots to make breeding sites for the Convict Cichlid. You do not necessarily need to bother much about the PH level of the water, because the Convict Cichlid is a hard fish that has learned to survive in different water conditions. All cichlids share a common trait of a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth located in the throat, alongside their regular teeth as well as spiny rays in parts of the dorsal, pectoral.pelvic and anal fins, this helps to deter predators. 6 Appearance of convict cichlid 7 Habitat and Tank requirements 8 Condition for tanks 9 Diet and Feeding 10 Aquarium care 11 Convict cichlid Tank mates 11.1 Keeping the cichlids convicted together 12 Breeding of convict cichlid However, they have learned over time to survive in a variety of water conditions. 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. William Smith. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The male also have larger dorsal and anal fins compared to the female Convict Cichlid. They have sharp teeth and could injure the fish they are bullying. If you have any questions feel free to contact me or leave a comment below. Unusually for cichlids, males are less colorful than females, which often display blue, orange, and yellow bellies. Free shipping. They are a very hardy fish breed which can adapt to most water conditions, and are very easy to This number…, The oscar fish is a member of the cichlid family and a popular aquatic pet.…, You may have always wanted to have cichlids swimming around in a particular corner in…. They are have more intense and bright black strips compared to their male counterparts. 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. The minimum tank size for a Convict Cichlid male and female is 30 gallons. The tank mates should be fish of similar size as the Convict Cichlid, for instance: Other fast moving fish as Giant Danios can also be put in the same tank with the Convict Cichlid. They are generally good feeders that will eat anything given to them in the aquarium. The male Convict Cichlid fertilizes the eggs and after approximately four days the eggs hatch. You can remove the fry after a few weeks if you plan on raising them, allowing the breeding process to start over. In fact, it’s more than a hobby, because I’ve spent countless hours doing research on different fish species. Same pair of Convict Cichlids with a closer view of their fry. This makes them easy to take care of especially for beginners in fish keeping. Above: a Convict Cichlid for sale in our online store. The female Convict Cichlid tends to stay nearer the eggs and the fry. These convicts laid their eggs in the middle of my tank with no hiding spot. The White Convict Cichlid or Pink Convict Cichlid are imitating albino varieties that are cream and pink, and lack the distinctive vertical bars. Convict cichlid can spawn at a very young age and it does not need any other breeding mate. Approximately 100-150 eggs are deposited and are vigorously guarded and cared for by both male and female (Ref. The front portion of these fins is soft and ideal for effortless and precise positions when it comes to swimming rather than fast-paced swimming. Convict Cichlid give care to both eggs and free swimming fry. 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 convicts usually like to lay their eggs near a cave made of flat rocks or a flowerpot turned on it’s side. 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 female will then lay around 20-40 eggs on the inside top of the spawning medium; the male will then follow her up and fertilise them. With that said, they may end up eating the aquatic plant in the tank. These fish are astonishingly easy to breed, and they produce very often, so if you are ready to start generating them, expect a group of at least 20 to 30 baby convicts within the period of a few weeks. One is larger than the other. The daily temperature for the Convict Cichlid in their natural habitat is around 26–29 °C which is 79–84 °F. They tend to lay eggs weekly no matter how crowded the tank. Required fields are marked *, Fish keeping and aquariums has been my hobby for almost 20 years. Just add a male and a female to a big enough tank with the correct layout, and you will be the proud carer of Convict Cichlid fry in no time. The convict cichlid has long been a staple in the aquarium industry. However, in an aquarium, the female can breed as many times as possible, so long as the conditions are suitable. Convicts are commonly found in streams and rivers, but it is also known to live in ponds and lakes with heavy plant cover. Cichlids only have one nostril on each side whereas other fish have two sets. The last guy's advice was not good in my opinion. The Convict Cichlid is a popular aquarium fish kept by most people in their homes and offices. The female Convict Cichlid will independently perform all the parental roles without any difficulty. Located in Campbellville Favourite. Description: The name convict cichlid describes these beautiful fish and its black stripes on a white background very accurately. The colouring of the male is monotone while the female has an orangish patch on her 38966). You can keep these fish as individuals or in pairs; this will result in a more mellow fish. The colouring of the male is monotone while the female has an orangish patch on her stomach. The Convict Cichlid owes its name to its coloration, in that it They attack most fish, sometimes for no reason at all. The males also develop more extended and more pointed anal and dorsal fins as they get older. 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