She will also have more vivid black strips than her male counterpart.Habitat and Tank RequirementsConvict Cichlids naturally inhabit the warm rivers of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica across to Panama.Advertisementsif(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_10',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',115,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-115{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding-bottom:10px!important;padding-top:10px!important;text-align:center!important}In addition to rivers they will be found in streams. She will also have more vivid black strips than her male counterpart.<\/p> "}}]}Related ArticlesFreshwater FishJewel Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 19, 2022 RobertFreshwater FishPink Convict Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 17, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishStrawberry Peacock Cichlid Care Guide and Species ProfileFebruary 14, 2022 RobertFreshwater FishJaguar Cichlid Care & Species ProfileDecember 20, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishCockatoo Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileMarch 16, 2021 RobertFreshwater FishSeverum Cichlid Care Guide & Species ProfileDecember 20, 2021 Robert. Although there are many different types of convict cichlids, their general scientific name is Amatitlania nigrofasciata, meaning a black-striped cichlid. Can he live in a tank all on his own . With this said, when setting up your aquarium you can use rocks and lots of plants, they also enjoy a slow current. Read My Experience. They reach sexual maturity at around 7 months old so they will be ready to breed then. The scientific name for convict cichlids is Cichlasoma nigrofasciatus. The apparent signs of a bloated cichlid are appetite loss, increased panting, red marks on the skin, and white, streaky feces. While most male mouth brooders are known to move from one mate to another, the male blackchin mouth brooder is known to look after the eggs instead of the female. If you own cichlids from the calm lake waters of the Rift Valley lakes, they will breed as long as the conditions in the tank are close to the acidic waters of their natural habitat. In most cases, the male cichlid will spawn more eggs than the female if there is just one in an aquarium. So, just like we deter food when bloated, cichlids avoid eating too when theyre not feeling right. Cichlids are generally calm, but during breeding season or if their area is in danger, they may turn hostile toward other fish. However, not all cichlids will produce eggs; some may only lay unfertilized eggs. How does one know? Thank you! Driftwood pile. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. Males will grow up to 6 inches long and females to 4.5 inches. In addition to the meat, you can feed them blanched vegetables such as:lettuce, broccoli and carrots.When youre feeding them, make sure to feed them smaller portions throughout the day instead of a single large portion; this large portion can pollute the tank and destabilize the water conditions. How do you tell if a cichlid is holding eggs? "I learned about these fish, they are so awesome.". It will mostly be found in larger streams and rivers, sheltering itself near rocks and sunken branches. Cichlids are my favorite aquarium fish to ever exist. Fish of the Month, Pet of the Month. A 30 We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Also, males are usually a couple of inches bigger than females. JavaScript is disabled. Females may also be more colorful than males. Convict cichlids make for good tank mates for each other. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"

Telling the difference between a male and female Convict is very straight forward.<\/p>

Males will be longer and generally have larger dorsal and anal fins.<\/p>

Unusually for fish, the females will have a brighter coloration, with yellow\/red spots on their belly once they are sexually mature. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The most commonly known variation of the convict cichlids is the one that has been named zebra cichlid. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. In species where the male and female look identical, this usually is the first tip-off. It isnt always in one session, Gospel Song It Is No Secret What God Can Do . Thanks, Robert. This helps to make your tank a healthier environment for your convicts, and helps to reduce the strain on your filtration system. Convict cichlids are among the most popular and commonly bred cichlids in the hobby. Interestingly all Convict Cichlids are monomorphic so youll need to wait until they are sexually matured to tell the difference between males and females (more on this later). Convicts will take care of their young and the young stay with the parents in a group. In the wild, convict cichlids will spawn several times a year, with the peak spawning season typically occurring in the dry months. Whilst lots of species wont breed in home aquariums, Convicts are the exception. Buy a semi-large fish tank, at least 20 gallons (75.7 L). Its pretty incredible. By selecting the proper equipment, creating an appropriate environment for the convicts, and taking care of the newly hatched baby fish, you can easily breed these amazing fish! I thought it might be bloated but im not sure, i thought it might have been trying to lay eggs and i disturbed it? Unlike a cichlid developing eggs, a bloated cichlid will have a suppressed appetite. They are new parents and are still trying to figure everything out, this is normal.). In addition, this period can vary for each fish. One of the most obvious signs that your cichlids are about to breed is when their colors intensify. All Rights Reserved. Spawning usually takes place in late winter or early spring. You may also see it written as Amatitlania nigrofasciatus, an alternate The dominant one can even bully weaker males to death! How Many Babies Do Convict Cichlids Have? In this article, we will talk through all you need to know about keeping them including dietary needs, ideal tank mates, tank setup, pink and white color varieties, how to control its aggression, and much more. In addition they are also perfect for beginners looking to get into breeding fish. Please empty this comment field to prove you're human. Can jellybean parrot fish reproduce? Unfortunately, this once happened to me too. Continue to feed your cichlid fry protein-rich foods, eventually incorporating finely crushed flakes or granules into their diet as well. When these fish carry eggs, they will be called gravid. To increase the chances of raising fry to maturity, breed your convict cichlids in a separate tank. Nov 11, 2010 #1 I have a convict cichlid female who looks abit fat just a little tho but she has something sticking out her bottom. Their popularity in the fishkeeping world is due to their hardiness, low care needs, and vibrant coloring. If its anything like discus or angelfish when the eggs are not fertilized properly or at all, they go white. When fully mature, these huge fish can be up to 10 inches (25 cm) long and need a diet high in fish or meat. Showing you what eggs would look like if they breed , and the different colors they may change. The most commonly known variation of the convict cichlids is the one that has been named zebra cichlid. If you witness some kind of courtship display followed by this type of guarding behavior, your convict cichlid has probably laid eggs. You may want to get a stick-on thermometer as well, which will allow you to quickly check the water temperature whenever you glance at your aquarium. It is an incredibly hardy fish, which is easy to care for, making it ideal for beginner fish keepers. Convict cichlid eggs are only going to take three to five days to hatch. My fry is about a month old, perhaps less. They usually will lay them on a structure in the tank. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Breed-Convict-Cichlids-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Breed-Convict-Cichlids-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5f\/Breed-Convict-Cichlids-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid482219-v4-728px-Breed-Convict-Cichlids-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"