Seven-band convict

Amatitlania septemfasciata

Also known as Cryptoheros septemfasciatus, Sevenband cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Seven-band convict (Amatitlania septemfasciata) — Mahieddine23 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–84°F (24–29°C)
pH: 7.0–8.2
Adult size: 4.7 in (12 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Caribbean slope, Costa Rica
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

The seven-band convict is a stocky relative of the common convict, kept the same way: as a single pair that will bond, claim a cave, and raise fry with determination. It is mostly peaceful in a community but turns protective and territorial once it spawns, so choose robust tankmates and give the pair its own end of the tank. Provide caves and flat stones for spawning over a sandy floor. Feed a varied omnivore diet of flake, sinking pellets, and frozen foods. A tank of around 160 liters suits a pair with tankmates.

In the wild

Amatitlania septemfasciata lives in lowland streams on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica, in the San Juan drainage and nearby rivers. The water is warm and runs neutral to hard. Recreate it with a sandy floor, wood and rock arranged into caves, and neutral to hard water at pH 7.0-8.2 and 24-29 C.

Good to know

Amatitlania septemfasciata, also sold under the older name Cryptoheros septemfasciatus, is a cichlid reaching about 12 centimeters. Its name counts its markings: septem means seven, for the seven dark bars along the flank. It is a cave spawner and a devoted biparental parent, with single spawns running to a couple of hundred fry. Breeding is of medium difficulty.

Did you know

The species is named by arithmetic. Septemfasciata means seven-banded, so the fish arrives with its own identification built into the name, provided you stop and count the dark stripes along its side.