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Convict Cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Fish · family Cichlidae · order Cichliformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Convict Cichlid
Photo: S. Olkowicz - User Hippocampus on pl.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Typical length
4 in[3]

The Convict Cichlid is a fish in the family Cichlidae[4]. In the United States it is an introduced species, and it is not listed under the Endangered Species Act[5][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Convict Cichlid a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Data deficient[6]. The fish is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. In all 7 states where NatureServe lists it, the state rank is SNA[7].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Data deficient

Where Convict Cichlid lives

NatureServe lists the Convict Cichlid as introduced, not native, in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada[5]. People report it most often on GBIF in Florida, Nevada, Hawaii, California and Wyoming[8]. Those counts follow how much people look and report, not how many fish there are[8].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: introduced, state rank SNAIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: introduced, state rank SNANVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: introduced, state rank SNACAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: introduced, state rank SNAAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: introduced, state rank SNAALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: introduced, state rank SNAHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[7].
Show state ranks (7 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaSNANot Applicable
ArizonaSNANot Applicable
CaliforniaSNANot Applicable
FloridaSNANot Applicable
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
IdahoSNANot Applicable
NevadaSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records spring and spring brook waters and pools as habitat for this fish[9]. It lives in warm pools of springs and the water that flows out of them[10]. It lays its eggs on surfaces that it has cleaned and that are solid[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Size and diet

The Convict Cichlid is typically about 10 cm (4 in) long[3]. Adults eat both small animals and plants, and NatureServe lists them as invertivore and herbivore[11]. In one Nevada spring the diet included algae, copepods, dragonfly nymphs, other insect larvae and adults, and snails[12]. NatureServe says it breeds very readily, both in home aquariums and in the wild[13]. The parents incubate the eggs and guard them[13].

Trait Value
Typical length[3] 10 cm (4 in)
Food habits[11] Invertivore, Herbivore

When to look for it

GBIF observation records of the Convict Cichlid in the United States are highest in March, July and December[14]. Records reflect when people look and report, not how many animals there are[14]. The facts do not say whether the fish is more active in any season.

January: 14 recordsJanFebruary: 12 recordsFebMarch: 47 recordsMarApril: 24 recordsAprMay: 19 recordsMayJune: 31 recordsJunJuly: 49 recordsJulAugust: 26 recordsAugSeptember: 30 recordsSepOctober: 39 recordsOctNovember: 26 recordsNovDecember: 51 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[14].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January14
February12
March47
April24
May19
June31
July49
August26
September30
October39
November26
December51

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Nevada, Hawaii, California, Wyoming[8]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Convict Cichlid endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the Convict Cichlid live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada[5]. It lives in warm spring pools and the water that flows out of them[10].
What does the Convict Cichlid eat?
NatureServe lists adults as invertivore and herbivore[11]. In one Nevada spring the diet included algae, copepods, dragonfly nymphs, other insect larvae and adults, and snails[12].
How big is the Convict Cichlid?
The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 10 cm (4 in)[3].
What other name does the Convict Cichlid have?
NatureServe also lists the name Zebra Cichlid[15].

Facts and sources

  1. Convict Cichlid is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Convict Cichlid: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 10 cm (4 in). NatureServe Explorer
  4. Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) is a fish in the family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. NatureServe lists Convict Cichlid as introduced (not native) in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Data deficient. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe state ranks for Convict Cichlid (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  8. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Convict Cichlid: Florida, Nevada, Hawaii, California, Wyoming. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Convict Cichlid: Spring/spring brook, Pool. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for Convict Cichlid. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for Convict Cichlid. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Convict Cichlid. NatureServe Explorer
  14. GBIF observation records of Convict Cichlid in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  15. Other English names listed by NatureServe for Convict Cichlid: Zebra Cichlid. NatureServe Explorer

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.

Photo: S. Olkowicz - User Hippocampus on pl.wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.