If a fish encroaches on its territory, it will defend itself by chasing and harassing the other fish. This behavior is common amongst many cichlids. Generally for beginners, they should only be placed in a tank with other Convicts due to their aggressive and territorial nature. The Convict Cichlid is an active fish that is known for its aggressive and territorial behavior. Other South American Cichlids (Jewel and Firemouth).Second, only keep them with larger species that can stand their own ground, for example: First, don’t keep them with any smaller or less aggressive fish. If you have some experience and are looking to add Convicts to a community tank then there here are some suggestions. A good quality hang on back is the bare minimum you should use. They have even been known at times to dig out the substrate and create a lot of mess! Because of this, you should make sure to have a strong filtration setup to stop the water getting murky. In our experience convict cichlids are much less territorial when living in a large tank with plenty of places to hunker down.Ĭonvicts are strong swimmers and like to rearrange tanks, so make sure you use strong plants (Amazon Swords or Java Ferns) and anchor them. Plants, rocks, and driftwood can help give all the tank inhabitants some element of privacy. Their temperament is also why including hiding spots in their tank is so important. Including them will help your fish feel comfortable and give them places to hide and get their own space (this is also useful for managing aggression). The waters where convict cichlids come from have these in abundance. It’s also a good idea to include some plants, rocks and driftwood. This is because these fish will periodically do a bit of digging and rooting around, and a coarse substrate will end up scratching them. Tank ConditionsĬonvict cichlids do best with a sandy substrate. This is the easiest way to prevent any issues arising with other fish.
Generally speaking they do not make a good choice for a community tank. If you’re a beginner then we would recommend you keep Cichlids in their own tank with no other species. BehaviourĬonvict Cichlids may appear timid, however they are extremely territorial and will be very hostile and aggressive, if fish enter ‘their’ territory. Due to their unique look and straightforward care requirements, it’s only natural that they’re a very popular fish for many freshwater aquarists. The Convict Cichlid ( Amatitlania nigrofasciata), also known as the zebra cichlid, is a freshwater fish native to the warm rivers of Central America, ranging from Costa Rica across to Panama.They are one of the most popular species of cichlid you can find. Adult size: 15 cm males, 11 cm females, minimum tank size: 120 litres. Due to their wide natural habitat, they have learned to survive in a wide variety of water conditions and because of this, they are very hardy fish. It is an incredibly hardy fish, which is easy to care for, making it ideal for the more advanced beginner fish keeper wanting to try cichlids.
0 kommentar(er)
