Cichlids are a favourite group of fish within the aquarium world, however they may also be sophisticated fish to maintain. One of the in style cichlid species within the aquarium commerce is the Convict cichlid, also called the Zebra cichlid. This aggressive fish is finest fitted to intermediate to skilled fishkeepers.
Measurement: | 4–5 inches |
Lifespan: | 8–10 years |
Comparable Breeds: | Different South American cichlids |
Appropriate for: | Intermediate hobbyists {and professional} fishkeepers |
Temperament: | Aggressive, territorial |
The Convict cichlid will get its title from the black and white stripes it sports activities throughout its physique, giving it the looks of a prisoner. The black and white stripes additionally give them their various title of Zebra cichlid. It is a South American cichlid species that may be very territorial, making it a poor possibility for neighborhood tanks. In the event you’re on this stunning however advanced fish, maintain studying.
Convict Cichlid Breed Traits
Convict Cichlid Price?
Convict cichlids are a typical fish on this planet of aquatics, so that you shouldn’t battle to seek out one to convey house. Aquatics outlets, pet shops, and on-line distributors all can present Convict cichlids. You’ll be able to anticipate to spend between $4 and $10 for a single fish. These are usually not neighborhood fish, so that you don’t have to fret about shopping for a number of fish. It’s attainable to maintain a female and male fish collectively should you’d like two fish.
Sociability of the Convict Cichlid
Do These Fish Make Good Pets?
It is a stunning fish that’s fascinating to observe. It’s thought-about to be hardy and comparatively low upkeep, making it a reasonably low-care fish. They don’t seem to be thought-about to be possibility for newcomers due to their territorial, aggressive temperament. They might be appropriate for a newbie who solely desires to maintain one fish, however solely skilled aquarists ought to try and maintain Convict cichlids in neighborhood settings.
Does This Fish Make a Good Tank Mate?
No, the Convict cichlid just isn’t tank mate for many fish, together with different Convict cichlids more often than not. They don’t seem to be appropriate for many neighborhood tank setups. Males shouldn’t be saved with different male Convict cichlids, though a male-female pairing can typically work with correct administration. There are some tank mates which are appropriate for the Convict cichlid, together with many types of catfish and different hardy backside dwellers.
Care Information & Tank Set Up
Water High quality, pH & Temperature
This fish just isn’t choosy about its water and may tolerate a spread of water circumstances. Sustaining excessive water high quality will assist the well being of your fish and supply them with an extended life. The Convict cichlid wants tropical water temperatures between 79–84°F, though they will do effectively in temperatures as little as 74°F. They’ll tolerate a pH vary between 6.5 and eight.0.
Substrate
Convict cichlids like to dig by their substrate, so sand is often advisable. Aquatic soil might work, nevertheless it’s more likely to turn into messy when the fish digs by it. Needless to say your substrate will even want to have the ability to assist flora, so you could have so as to add root tabs if utilizing sand.
Crops
As beforehand talked about, these fish prefer to dig, however in addition they prefer to uproot crops, so it may be difficult to maintain a planted tank for Convict cichlids. Hardy crops, particularly these that may be hooked up to surfaces, are preferrred, together with Java fern, Java moss, and Anubias. Cryptocorynes, Echinodorus, and Vallisneria are additionally appropriate choices.
Lighting
There aren’t any lighting wants particular to the Convict cichlid, though they might have to be slowly labored as much as brilliant tank lights. Intention to offer a daily day/night time lighting cycle and keep in mind to make sure your gentle is able to supporting the stay crops within the tank.
Filtration
These are usually not overly messy fish, so a filtration system that’s rated for the dimensions of the tank that your fish are in is appropriate. Cling-on-back and canister filters are the best choices in most conditions for Convict cichlids. If holding Convict cichlids with messy tank mates, like Plecos, then you need to beef up your filtration system to account for the added heavy bioload.
Issues to Know When Proudly owning a Convict Cichlid:
Meals & Eating regimen Necessities
Cichlid-specific pellets are an amazing possibility for feeding your Convict cichlid. Select a high-quality pellet that’s excessive in protein. These fish are omnivores, so a various eating regimen is crucial to their well being. Whereas a high-quality pellet ought to be the bottom of your Convict cichlid’s eating regimen, it’s also possible to present treats, like mosquito larvae, brine shrimp, and bloodworms, in addition to algae sheets.
Measurement & Development Price
Convict cichlids are speedy growers when they’re very younger. Their development will gradual as they turn into juveniles and enter maturity, although. It’s not unusual for a Convict cichlid to take as much as 2 to three years to achieve its most grownup dimension.
Varieties
There are a number of forms of Convict cichlids, though they’re all the identical species. All of them have distinctive stripes, however totally different colorations do happen. Widespread forms of Convict cichlids embody albino, leopard, yellow stomach, pink phantom, black barred, gold, blue, and electrical blue. There may be some sample variations between varieties, however all are identifiable as Convict cichlids.
The totally different forms of Convict cichlids are the product of selective breeding. Within the wild, varieties outdoors of the standard zebra-type stripes are very unusual. Albino fish can happen within the wild, however their colour typically makes them simpler for predators to identify, giving them a shorter lifespan.
Lifespan and Well being Situations
With correct care, a Convict cichlid can attain 8–10 years of age. They’re hardy fish which are tolerant of quite a lot of water circumstances. If saved in an applicable tank atmosphere, you may anticipate your Convict cichlid to be wholesome. If saved in a tank with different fish, particularly inappropriate tank mates, then your Convict cichlid might turn into harassed, which might result in sicknesses and loss of life.
Male vs Feminine
It isn’t often very troublesome to inform the distinction between female and male Convict cichlids. Males are usually bigger than females, in addition to having a bigger nuchal hump, which is a bump on the brow or high of the pinnacle. Females might have a nuchal hump, however it’s smaller than that of male Convict cichlids. In lots of circumstances, females might lack a nuchal hump altogether.
Other than being bigger, males even have bigger fins compared to their physique dimension than females do. You too can have a look at your fish’s anal opening to find out their intercourse. Males are likely to have a barely protruding opening, whereas females have a flat, broad opening.
Last Ideas
The Convict cichlid is a neat fish that many individuals take pleasure in holding. They do want house, although, and so they aren’t possibility for neighborhood tank setups. In the event you’re hoping for a fish that can get along with tank mates, then it’s finest to skip the Convict cichlid. Though named for its prison-uniform stripes, the Convict cichlid can be not a very good fish, so you may anticipate it to assault or bully different tank mates, no matter dimension.
Featured Picture Credit score: Bernsten, Shutterstock