Convicts are the easiest to breed of all cichlids IMO. But they are mean little buggers when spawning and will routinely harass tankmates to death if allowed...

Their are 2 common varieties...The normal striped and a pink morph. For the purpose of this short primer i'm just gonna call e' Convicts.

The Convict Cichlid makes a great addition to large fish tanks. They are a colorful addition to any cichlid tank. However, Convict Cichlids are widely considered the street brawlers of the cichlid world and care must be taken when placing them with other fish.

While beautiful, the Convict Cichlid is a violent fish. The have been described by some as homicidal maniacs and rightly so. These fish are aggressive to just about every other fish, including its own species. If they are kept in a large tank with other large aggressive fish that can fend for themselves, they won't be too much of a bother.

They seem to do well with Oscars, Firemouth Cichlids and Green Terrors, though not ones that are smaller than the Convict. If you do put them in a tank with other fish, keep an eye on them. If they are beating up the other fish, you should probably separate them. It has been reported that the Convict is more aggressive to slow moving fish, and this should be kept in mind before choosing tank-mates. If you keep a single pair the fish may get bored, this is especially of the male. If this happens he will hunt the female making her far less likely to have eggs and raise them. Convict Cichlids should be kept in large tanks with plenty of hiding places. This includes moderate rock and plant decoration. The Convict Cichlid will most likely eat live plants.

At maturity, the Convict Cichlid will reach a size of four to six inches. Their bodies will be grayish green with black vertical bands. Females are more colorful than males with pinkish colors and orange scales on their sides and underbelly. Males have longer fins and a bump on their head. Males will also grow faster and larger than the females.

The Convict Cichlid, or Cichasoma nigrofasciatum, is originally from the Central American countries of Panama, El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica.

Besides watching it for destructive behavior, the Convict Cichlid is fairly easy to care for. They should be kept in slightly acidic to neutral waters, with pH levels from six and a half to eight. They will thrive in waters with a temperature range from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. They should be given plenty of hiding places; they are generally more active this way. They also seem to do well if a small light is left on throughout the night. A 5-watt bulb should be sufficient, even for a large tank. Additionally they seem to do best in tanks with a lot of water movement. This is best achieved with a powerhead. The powerhead should be turned off nightly.

Like most other Cichlids of any size they prefer meaty foods but they are not picky.

As for breeding...if your Convicts are well fed and have a good rock or cave they will spawn....and spawn....and spawn....LOL!!