Convict Cichlid

Convicts are a striped South American cichlid that grow to about 15cm. Selective breeding has also produced an albino version which is also widely available.

Although very aggressive in nature convict fish make excellent parents. This is a very interesting time to watch a tank with a pair of convicts. If allowed to breed they will attack all other fish that come within range of the male nest. Spawning occurs on a piece of rock or depression burrowed out of the substrate. Once convict fry have used up the yolk sac they can be fed on ground fish flake. These fish are very easy to reproduce and the fry are easily raised.

Feeding is best done with a cichlid pellet that the fish can swallow. Start with smaller pellets when young and progress to larger ones later on.

Water is best around 26 degrees but this can range can be varied higher or lower. Tap water is usually perfect for convict cichlids once the chlorine has been removed.