Getting Started with the Convict Cichlid

If you're reading this, then you must either have a convict cichlid or be thinking about getting one. If you've already got one (or more), then feel free to let me know what it is you like about them. Why do I like them? For starters, they're relatively small and they're easy to breed and keep. This makes them an ideal choice for people just getting started with cichlids. But don't go crazy with them, one pair is really all you want. They get aggressively territorial during breeding, so pairs are better kept alone in a decent sized tank.

Another reason I like the convict cichlid is because they're not picky eaters. Laugh all you want, but if you've kept many fish, you'll know that some fish can be picky about what they eat. Not so with the convict cichlid, they're omnivores and most types of fish food are fine with them. But be careful, they'll also eat aquarium plants.

Yet another consideration for keeping a convict cichlid is what kind of filtration system you're going to use. These guys like to dig, so you're better off with an external filter system than an undergravel. For me, that's no problem, I never really cared for looking at an undergravel filter, but that's not really the point. This link takes you to a pretty cool book that really helped me out when I was having some troubles with my tank.

One last question you may have: Why is it called a convict cichlid? Think back to those old black and white movies with people in prisons. The stripes on the convict cichlid kind of looks like those old prison uniforms.

I’m trying to keep these posts short, no one wants to spend all day reading my thoughts on aquariums. But, I always like hearing about aquariums and setups, so let me know what you like about the convict cichlid.