The Convict Cichlid is a fish that has a territorial nature to it. Its behaviors changes with its age and life stage. For example, juvenile Convict Cichlids is often social with the other fish in there tank.
However, sub-adult Convict Cichlids begin to establish their own areas within an aquarium as their own territory. When the Convict Cichlid become an adult, it becomes the defender of its own territory. During the breeding cycle of the Convict Cichlid, however, the behavior of the fish change again.
How to Keep Convict Cichlids with Other Fish
The breeding Convict Cichlids become very aggressively towards all other fish in the tank. These fish will attack other fish that are much more larger than themselves in an attempt to protect their breeding area and nest. Because of the Convict Cichlid’s potential to be aggressive towards other fish, it is important to choose the proper tank mates.
Convict Cichlids tend to do best with other fish species that are either very fast in their tanks, or that has somewhat tough body. Common Plecos are one species of fish that you may keep with Convict Cichlids due to the armored skin of the Pleco that prevent the Convict Cichlid from nipping at it. Giant Danios is another type of fish that are compatible with Convict Cichlids because of the speed at which they swim in the upper regions of the tank.
However, you should avoid fish with long fins, like Bettas, due to the potential of the Convict Cichlid to nip at the fins of the Betta fish. Additionally, you should also avoid small fish species, like Neon Tetras, due to the potential of the Convict Cichlid to view them as food. It is better to have a stable tank with compatible fish in it then a tank that has many fish that are fighting with each other.
If you do decide to keep a pair of Convict Cichlids, you will have to manage the aquarium more active. Convict Cichlids will clean a cave and protect their fry from other fish in the tank. However, because these Cichlids will be protective of their fry, the other fish in the tank could be in dangers.
To avoid this situation, you can use a high volume tank with many visual breaks in the tank. You can create visual breaks in the aquarium by use rocks, terracotta pots, and dense plants in the planted tank. These visual breaks will make it impossible for the fish in the tank to see other fish in the aquarium.
If the fish cannot see the other fish in the tank, they will not be able to fight with the other fish. Additionally, there are also specific techniques you can use in the aquarium to reduce the fighting between the fish. For example, you can rearrange the decor in the aquarium before adding the fish to the tank.
By adding fish to the aquarium with the decor rearranged, the fish will have to learn the new layout of the tank. Another method is to feed the fish in multiple locations in the tank. By feeding the fish in multiple locations, the dominant species will not be able to guard the food for the other fish in the aquarium.
If the dominant species is not guarding the food, the other fish will not be attacked while they are eating. Using these techniques will reduce the number of conflict in the aquarium and allow the fish to have a more stable environment in which they lives.
