Females tend to be smaller than males and have more intense coloration. Your email address will not be published. Just about any food small enough to fit in their tiny mouths will be accepted. This was a surprising result since, most commonly, convict cichlids form male-larger pairs – that is, the male is, on average, 30% larger than the female in most A. nigrofasciatus couples. But is so happened that I haven't fed it in a week and still it's belly appears to be rounded. Our Latest Orchid Endler Variation: Orange Line Orchid Endler, Developing the Perfect Snakeskin Orchid Endler, Our Favorite Aquarium: A Low Tech Planted Tank, Making Your Endlers as Beautiful as Possible, Scientific Name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata, Common Name:  Convict Cichlid, Black Convict Cichlid, Zebra Cichlid, Convict. Gave a bunch away. Males of the species tend to grow slightly larger and develop more pointed dorsal and anal fins. I now have 17 in a 20 Gallon, and 18 in a 25 Gallon. Black Convict Cichlids get their name from their appearance of white and black stripes. We recommend seeking the advice of a professional veterinarian in case of illness or an emergency. You can also tell the difference between the two genders as they grow; male convict cichlids will be much larger than the females. I’m excited to watch their breeding behaviors, as they’ve got a 30 gallon tank all to themselves. For many species, the female changes into her breeding colors sooner in the breeding cycle than does the male. Cichlid Sizes and Shapes In most types of cichlid fish, the male will be larger than the female, measuring up to a full inch inch longer. If [Continue reading …]. In most african cichlids, the males will grow larger than the female cichlids. Additional egg laying can be discouraged by raising the young fry with the parents. They will usually lay their eggs on a flat rock near or inside the cave and use the cave to help protect their fry once they are born. Interestingly all Convict Cichlids are monomorphic so you’ll need to wait until they are sexually matured to tell the difference between males and females (more on this later). Marty’s Fish does not intend to provide veterinary advice and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Also you should not keep breeding pairs in a community tank as you’re asking for aggression and trouble. They are a natural omnivore and aren’t fussy eaters; they will eat most things that are placed in the aquarium.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_19',117,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-leader-4','ezslot_20',117,'0','1'])); Omnivore means that they will eat both plant and meat matter. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-box-3','ezslot_6',110,'0','0']));The Black Convict Cichlid, also known as the Zebra Cichlid, is one of the most popular members of the Cichlidae family. Welcome to Fishkeeping World. Male Convicts will range between 5 to 6 inches in length, while females will range between 3- 4 inches in length. After a further 5 days you should expect them to abandon their yolk sac and start to swim.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_23',137,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_24',137,'0','1'])); As a side note this can be the time where the father can become aggressive to the fry. The name Mbuna Cichlids is generally used to describe any of the rock-dwelling species of cichlids native to Lake Malawi. Yes, like other members of the Cichlidae family, they are aggressive and extremely territorial. The male Convict Cichlid can grow up to 6 inches, whilst the female will grow to around 4.5 inches. One model that has been repeatedly tested is the sequential assessment model (SAM; Enquist and Leimar, 1983; Leimar et al., 1991). Telling the difference between a male and female Convict is very straight forward. I have bred convicts for a long time, and for the first time, Ive sold the parents, and kept some babies as breeding stock. Copyright © 2020 - Fishkeeping World - All Rights Reserved. Feeding. These cichlids are some of the most aggressive and territorial of all cichlid species so they generally need to be kept alone or in large tanks. The male grows to approximately 7cms whereas the female only grows to approximately 5cms. Now my babies are havin babies.. There is many hiding places, rock caves, clay pots, wood, multiple plants ect. Convict cichlids are serially monogamous, so pair bonds may form first before they establish a territory together, or the male and female may each obtain a territory before pairing with each other. Fishkeeping world was created by a school of fish fanatics. Females may also be more colorful than males. Name: Demasoni cichlid Scientific name: Pseudotropheus demasoni Alternative name: Dwarf mbuna Family: Cichlidae Size:3 inches (7.6 cm) Care level: Moderate to hard Minimum tank size: 55 gallons or more for larger groups (recommended to keep in large groups) Temperature: 23 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius Water conditions:5 to 8.5 pH Diet: Omnivorous Lifespan: 10 years Temperament:Aggressive Convict Cichlids have a tendency towards unusually aggressive and spunky behaviors for a fish their size. It predicts that evolution should favor rules of engagement that minimize the risk of injury to the opponents while at the same ti… The biggest problem with Convict Cichlids is that they are easy to care for, easy to breed, produce lots of fry and live for a long time. This female has much more red than most Convicts. Maximum Size: In aquariums, they can grow to be about 6" long. However they are extremely territorial and will be very hostile and aggressive, if fish enter ‘their’ territory. However, if you have some experience and are looking to add Convicts to a community tank then there are some rules you need to follow.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_21',119,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_22',119,'0','1'])); First, you should ensure that you don’t keep them with any smaller or less aggressive fish. To stop this you can remove him from the tank and leave the fry with their mother. I've done a lot of research on this particular fish (convicts) and many places said a 10 gallon was fine for a pair. The minimum tank size we would recommend for Convict Cichlids is around 25 gallons. Generally speaking they do not make a good choice for a community tank. Whilst many members of the Cichlidae family are large fish, the Convict is the runt of the family, with males growing to 6 inches and females to 4.5 inches.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',135,'0','0'])); The male Convict Cichlid can grow up to 6 inches, whilst the female will grow to around 4.5 inches. They will spend most of their time near their territory inside caves and plant matter. I have 1 pink female with awesome blues and reds, 1 normal that had pink parents and 1 normal from the LFS. You can use flat stones, or flower pots to create caves; truth be told they aren’t too fussy so just about anything will do.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_14',121,'0','0'])); In terms of water parameters follow the guidance above (in the Habitat and Tank Requirements section) with one exception; heat the water up to 84°F. 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