Convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Scientific name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata G?nther, 1867

The Convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 20–36°C (68–97°F).

Convict cichlid care at a glance

Temperature: 20–36°C (68–97°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 17 - 19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 8 - 10; Anal soft rays: 6 - 7; Vertebrae: 27 - 28. This species is distinguished by the following characters: two (vs. one) distal rows of interradial scales on anal fin; arms in the first epibranchial bone are parallel (vs. divergent); posterior end of dentigerous arm of dentary rounded or squarish (vs. triple-spined or bluntly pointed); peritoneal coloration is uniformly dark (vs. not uniformly dark); rostrad directed pronounced convexity on the ventral process of the articular absent (vs. present); body less deep than as compared with its congeners kanna and siquia; 4th bar not Y-shaped.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Amatitlania nigrofasciata
Family: Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 10.0
Common length: 8.5
Environment: Freshwater;; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 20 benthopelagic
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Central America: Pacific slope, from R?o Sucio, El Salvador to R?o Suchiate, Guatemala; Atlantic slope, from R?o Patuca, Honduras to R?o Jutiapa, Guatemala. Not in slope to Panama, Costa Rica or even Nicaragua, as formerly considered. Introduced elsewhere.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Potential pest
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: highly commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm