cichlid · freshwater

Convict Cichlid: adult size, tank size & tankmates

The Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) grows to about 7.1 in (15 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 36 inches long and about 30 gallons. It doesn't need a group of its own kind, at 75–82°F.

Try it in the tank builder See tankmates

How big it really gets

Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.

Needs special care. Sold cheaply as small juveniles without warning regarding lethal community aggression and uncontrollable reproductive output.

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Your tank

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Quick facts

Adult size: 7.1 in (15 cm SL)
Minimum tank: 36 inches long and about 30 gallons
Temperature: 75–82°F
pH: 6–8
Hardness: 5–25 dGH
Group size: 1 (solitary or pair)
With other fish: aggressive
With its own kind: aggressive
Swims: bottom of the tank
Diet: omnivore
Care level: beginner
Lifespan: not stated in sources

Watch for: nips fins · eats small fish · eats shrimp · eats snails · eats live plants

Convict Cichlid tankmates

Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.

Good tankmates

Use caution

Avoid

All 105 species we checked against the Convict Cichlid

Species	Verdict	Why
Black Skirt Tetra	Compatible	No conflicts found
Blood Parrot Cichlid	Compatible	No conflicts found
Buenos Aires Tetra	Compatible	No conflicts found
Chinese Algae Eater	Compatible	No conflicts found
Electric Blue Acara	Compatible	No conflicts found
Electric Yellow Lab	Compatible	No conflicts found
Firemouth Cichlid	Compatible	No conflicts found
Kissing Gourami	Compatible	No conflicts found
Oscar	Compatible	No conflicts found
Pictus Catfish	Compatible	No conflicts found
Rainbow Shark	Compatible	No conflicts found
Red-Tail Shark	Compatible	No conflicts found
Serpae Tetra	Compatible	No conflicts found
Three-spot Gourami	Compatible	No conflicts found
Tiger Barb	Compatible	No conflicts found
Yoyo Loach	Compatible	No conflicts found
Angelfish	Caution	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Angelfish has long fins.
Dwarf Gourami	Caution	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Dwarf Gourami has long fins.
African Dwarf Frog	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and African Dwarf Frog only grows to about 1.4 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. African Dwarf Frog is peaceful.
Amano Shrimp	Avoid	Convict Cichlid will eat Amano Shrimp.
Assassin Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Assassin Snail.
Bala Shark	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bala Shark is peaceful.
Bamboo Shrimp	Avoid	Convict Cichlid will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
Betta	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Betta has long fins.
Black Neon Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Black Neon Tetra is peaceful.
Bleeding Heart Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bleeding Heart Tetra is peaceful.
Boesemani Rainbowfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Boesemani Rainbowfish only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Boesemani Rainbowfish is peaceful.
Bolivian Ram	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bolivian Ram is peaceful.
Bristlenose Pleco	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bristlenose Pleco is peaceful.
Bronze Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bronze Cory is peaceful.
Bumblebee Goby	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Bumblebee Goby is peaceful.
Cardinal Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Cardinal Tetra is peaceful.
Celestial Pearl Danio	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Celestial Pearl Danio only grows to about 1 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Celestial Pearl Danio is peaceful.
Cherry Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Cherry Barb is peaceful.
Cherry Shrimp	Avoid	Convict Cichlid will eat Cherry Shrimp.
Chili Rasbora	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Chili Rasbora only grows to about 0.9 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Chili Rasbora is peaceful.
Clown Killifish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Clown Killifish only grows to about 1.6 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Killifish is peaceful.
Clown Loach	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Loach is peaceful.
Clown Pleco	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Clown Pleco is peaceful.
Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid is peaceful.
Common / Comet Goldfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Common / Comet Goldfish only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Common / Comet Goldfish is peaceful.
Common Pleco	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Common Pleco is peaceful.
Congo Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Congo Tetra has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Congo Tetra is peaceful.
Crystal Red Shrimp	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Crystal Red Shrimp only share 75–76°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid will eat Crystal Red Shrimp.
Denison Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Denison Barb is peaceful.
Diamond Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Diamond Tetra is peaceful.
Discus	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Discus is peaceful.
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is peaceful.
Ember Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Ember Tetra only grows to about 0.9 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Ember Tetra is peaceful.
Endler's Livebearer	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Endler's Livebearer only grows to about 1.2 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Endler's Livebearer is peaceful.
Fancy Goldfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid (75–82°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures.; Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Fancy Goldfish has long fins.
Forktail Blue-eye	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Forktail Blue-eye is peaceful.
German Blue Ram	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and German Blue Ram only share 81–82°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. German Blue Ram is peaceful.
Ghost Shrimp	Avoid	Convict Cichlid will eat Ghost Shrimp.
Giant Danio	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful.
Glass Catfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Glass Catfish is peaceful.
Glowlight Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Glowlight Tetra is peaceful.
Gold Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Gold Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Gold Barb is peaceful.
Guppy	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Guppy has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Guppy is peaceful.
Harlequin Rasbora	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Harlequin Rasbora is peaceful.
Head-and-tail-light Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Head-and-tail-light Tetra is peaceful.
Hillstream Loach	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Hillstream Loach only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Hillstream Loach is peaceful.
Honey Gourami	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Honey Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Honey Gourami is peaceful.
Iridescent Shark	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Iridescent Shark is peaceful.
Japanese Trapdoor Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Japanese Trapdoor Snail.
Julii Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Julii Cory is peaceful.
Kribensis	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Kribensis is peaceful.
Kuhli Loach	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Kuhli Loach is peaceful.
Lambchop Rasbora	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Lambchop Rasbora only grows to about 1.4 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Lambchop Rasbora is peaceful.
Lemon Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Lemon Tetra is peaceful.
Malaysian Trumpet Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Malaysian Trumpet Snail.
Marbled Hatchetfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Marbled Hatchetfish is peaceful.
Molly	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Molly is peaceful.
Moonlight Gourami	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Moonlight Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Moonlight Gourami is peaceful.
Mystery Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Mystery Snail.; Convict Cichlid (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
Neon Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Neon Tetra only grows to about 1.4 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Neon Tetra is peaceful.
Nerite Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Nerite Snail.
Odessa Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Odessa Barb is peaceful.
Otocinclus	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Otocinclus is peaceful.
Panda Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Panda Cory is peaceful.
Paradise Fish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid (75–82°F) and Paradise Fish (50–72°F) need different temperatures.
Pea Puffer	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Pea Puffer only grows to about 1.4 in.
Pearl Danio	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Danio is peaceful.
Pearl Gourami	Avoid	Convict Cichlid nips fins, and Pearl Gourami has long fins.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Pearl Gourami is peaceful.
Penguin Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Penguin Tetra is peaceful.
Peppered Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Peppered Cory is peaceful.
Platy	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Platy is peaceful.
Pristella Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Pristella Tetra is peaceful.
Pygmy Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats small fish, and Pygmy Cory only grows to about 1.4 in.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Pygmy Cory is peaceful.
Ramshorn Snail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid eats snails, including Ramshorn Snail.
Rosy Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid and Rosy Barb only share 75–75°F. That's a tight window.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Rosy Barb is peaceful.
Rummy-nose Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Rummy-nose Tetra is peaceful.
Scissortail Rasbora	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful.
Siamese Algae Eater	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Siamese Algae Eater is peaceful.
Silver Hatchetfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Silver Hatchetfish is peaceful.
Silver Tip Tetra	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Silver Tip Tetra is peaceful.
Sparkling Gourami	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Sparkling Gourami is peaceful.
Sterbai Cory	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Sterbai Cory is peaceful.
Swordtail	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Swordtail is peaceful.
Tinfoil Barb	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Tinfoil Barb is peaceful.
Upside-down Catfish	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Upside-down Catfish is peaceful.
Variatus Platy	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Variatus Platy is peaceful.
Weather Loach	Avoid	Convict Cichlid (75–82°F) and Weather Loach (64–74°F) need different temperatures.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Weather Loach is peaceful.
White Cloud Mountain Minnow	Avoid	Convict Cichlid (75–82°F) and White Cloud Mountain Minnow (57–72°F) need different temperatures.; Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. White Cloud Mountain Minnow is peaceful.
Zebra Danio	Avoid	Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Zebra Danio is peaceful.

Care notes

Needs: Heavy, firmly anchored rock structures; unsuited for peaceful community tanks due to territorial excavation and extreme brood defense.

Group: Best maintained singly or as a isolated mated pair; conspecifics fight severely in small to medium aquaria.

Temperament: aggressive toward other fish, aggressive toward its own kind. Lives in the bottom of the tank.

Common questions

How big does a Convict Cichlid get?

About 7.1 inches (15 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.

What size tank does a Convict Cichlid need?

At least 36 inches long and about 30 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 40 gallon breeder.

How many Convict Cichlids should be kept together?

It can be kept on its own. Best maintained singly or as a isolated mated pair; conspecifics fight severely in small to medium aquaria.

What fish can live with a Convict Cichlid?

Species that passed every check include Tiger Barb, Three-spot Gourami, Electric Blue Acara, Firemouth Cichlid, Electric Yellow Lab, Buenos Aires Tetra.

Gear for a Convict Cichlid setup

TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 40 gallon breeder (36 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 200 W for 40 gallons, holding 75–82°F.Find on Amazon →FoodSinking food reaches the bottom before tankmates grab it.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →

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Sources

Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.

seriouslyfish.com /species/amatitlania-nigrofasciata