Above: This picture shows a young premium quality Pink Convict Cichlid, swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: These are awesome fish with pink bodies, and the females have bright orange markings, like those on the female in the picture above.

Origin: The ancestors of the Pink Convict lived in Central America. But now they live in aquariums all over the world, and the Pink Convict was developed from the wild Black Convict.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, they can grow to be about 6" long.

Behaviors: Convict Cichlids are usually aggressive fish, and they are even more aggressive when preparing to spawn, spawning, and then protecting their babies.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include, Pictus Catfish, Plecostomus Species, and Corydoras Catfish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: Pink Convicts live best from about 70 to 80-degrees F. with 78 being perhaps ideal.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets is the best food for these Cichlids to eat. It's best to feed them small pellets when their young, then gradually increase the size of the pellets, as they grow to be bigger.

Click here to learn more about and shop online for premium fish foods.

Water Conditions: These fish can adapt to most types of water, and so as usual it's best not to try to change the pH or alkalinity.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: Pink Convicts will eventually need to live in an aquarium with at least 50-gallons of water.

Decor: Pink Convicts do not need gravel and a layer more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

Convicts love to have a cave or nice pile of rocks.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel.

Live plants are beautiful and improve the water quality, but this fish will usually dig plants up, so most aquariums with Pink Convicts do not have live plants.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended. Most 50-gallon aquariums have room along the back for one Penguin 350B Filter, and this is sort of the minimum set up for Pink Convicts.

Better is a 80, 100, 120, 150, or 200-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back.

Click here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: Pink Convicts can live for several years. Keep the water conditions excellent and feed them premium foods, and they'll most likely breed and produce the next generation of fish for your aquarium.

Gender: When small it's not so easy to tell males from females just by looking at them, but when they mature, the male will be larger with longer more pointed fins, and females get orange markings on their bellies and of course become plumper as they fill with eggs.

Breeding: Pink Convicts need a cave or pile of rocks to lay their eggs in.

Click here for a lot more about breeding various tropical fish in aquariums.

Popularity: The Pink Convict has been a very popular aquarium fish.

Names: Their scientific name is Amatitlania nigrofasciata.

Variations: There are some variations, including the pink, the marbled, and long finned variations.

Click here for a lot more information about keeping and caring for Pink Convicts, including a picture gallery.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.

DrTom - 02/26/2015