Yellow Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nanolutea)

Understand the Yellow Convict Cichlid before choosing one

The Yellow Convict Cichlid is Amatitlania nanolutea, a freshwater member of the cichlid family Cichlidae. FishBase records the species as benthopelagic and gives its distribution as the Atlantic slope of Panama in the Guarumo River basin. It is a Central American cichlid, not a catfish, and reaches a recorded maximum of 6.4 cm standard length.

It suits a prepared keeper who will manage a cichlid aquarium rather than treating this fish as an automatic addition to a peaceful community. American cichlids vary greatly in temperament, and some members of the group may be very aggressive. Compatibility therefore depends on the behaviour of the individual fish, the proposed companions, the available space and the overlap in water requirements.

The wider Amatitlania genus is native to Central American fresh waters from El Salvador and Guatemala to Panama. That natural-history context helps place this fish within a group of fairly small cichlids, but aquarium decisions should follow the figures attached to this species and the clearly scoped American-cichlid guidance below.

Who this fish suits

This is a good choice for a keeper who will test the water, control feeding, watch behaviour and change the stocking plan if aggression develops. Those decisions matter more than relying on the modest recorded length alone.

Choose the dispatch size from the live selector

One purchase supplies one animal of the selected size. Choose between the labels 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm and 5-6 cm on the live size selector. The selector is the right place to make the size choice when ordering.

The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. These measurements describe the dispatch size. They do not replace the adult planning reference, aquarium-space decision or compatibility assessment.

Use the size label correctly

• 3-4 cm: plan for an animal dispatched within that labelled interval, then continue planning around adult needs.
• 4-5 cm: use the same adult aquarium and water decisions rather than treating a larger dispatch fish as a different care type.
• 5-6 cm: allow for the FishBase maximum record of 6.4 cm standard length and leave sensible margin around that reference.

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Yellow Convict Cichlid listing has no sex-guaranteed option.

The gallery images are representative of this type of animal rather than photographs of the exact animal supplied, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal.

Dispatch size should guide practical preparation, such as confirming that the aquarium and stocking plan are ready for the selected fish. It should never be used to infer sex, maturity, origin or eventual behaviour.

Plan aquarium space around the adult reference

FishBase records a maximum of 6.4 cm standard length for Amatitlania nanolutea. Treat that as the decisive species-level planning reference rather than using a dispatch label as the expected final measurement. The genus summary also notes that captive members may grow larger, so leave margin instead of treating 6.4 cm as a hard physical limit.

OATA’s American-cichlid guidance recommends an aquarium of at least 120 litres for a pair of smaller species under 15 cm. Treat that as a group planning reference rather than a species-specific minimum. Larger aquariums generally make temperature and water quality more stable, so the 120-litre figure is a floor for the stated pair scenario, not a target to reduce.

Apply the numbers to the intended stocking plan

An aquarium that merely contains the fish is not the same as one that can keep waste controlled and accommodate changing behaviour. Allow room for a filter, fine gravel or sand and useful cover, then judge stocking against the aquarium’s total biological load.

If you are comparing this fish with others in our American cichlid collection, compare recorded adult measurements and care requirements rather than catalogue photographs or dispatch sizes.

Set measurable water targets before the fish arrives

OATA’s American-cichlid guidance gives 22–27°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and soft-to-medium general hardness of 4–12°dH. It also gives carbonate hardness of 3–10°dKH. Use these values together as broad aquarium guidance, not a species-specific optimum, and favour stability within the ranges.

Measure the aquarium instead of choosing a number from the middle of a range and assuming it has been reached. Our water chemistry guide explains what the principal readings mean, while the water matcher helps compare measured aquarium water with these targets.

Work out the nitrate ceiling from your tap water

The nitrate instruction is relative to the normal tap-water reading. If the tap water measures 15 mg per litre, the stated ceiling is 35 mg per litre: 15 plus 20. That calculation defines an upper limit, not a preferred target. Use maintenance to keep the aquarium from reaching it.

Temperature, pH and hardness should be checked as a set. A reading inside one range does not cancel an ammonia or nitrite problem. Before introducing the fish, confirm that ammonia and nitrite are both zero and that the remaining values are steady within the stated intervals.

Build the aquarium around substrate, cover and usable volume

Use fine aquarium gravel or sand. American cichlids may dig or sift the substrate while feeding or breeding, so choose a substrate that fits that behaviour and expect its surface to be moved. Keep enough access around the aquarium to inspect the substrate and remove accumulated solid waste during maintenance.

Provide cover while recognising that American cichlids may dig up or eat live plants. Plastic plants are one option identified in the group guidance when dependable cover is needed. If you use live plants, plan the display around the possibility that rooted growth may be disturbed rather than assuming the planting will remain unchanged.

Protect the working volume

The recommendation to use as large an aquarium as reasonably possible has a practical purpose: more water generally makes temperature and water-quality conditions more stable. Decorative choices should therefore leave sufficient usable water volume and should not prevent routine access to the substrate, filter or fish.

Do not let a modest dispatch measurement drive the layout. A fish selected at 3-4 cm requires the same forward planning as one selected at 5-6 cm. Build for adult reference, water stability and the complete stocking plan from the start.

The result should be straightforward to maintain: substrate that can be cleaned, cover that can tolerate cichlid activity, clear access for observation and sufficient water volume for the intended occupants.

Mature the filter and confirm zero toxic waste

A filter is essential. The RSPCA’s aquarium welfare guidance explains that fish release toxic ammonia and that a working biological filter supports beneficial bacteria which convert ammonia to nitrite and then to the safer nitrate. Both ammonia and nitrite still need to read zero before this fish is introduced.

Prepare and mature the aquarium before livestock arrives. Our first tropical tank guide takes you through that preparation. Use test results to judge readiness rather than relying only on how long the aquarium has been running.

Pre-arrival checks

1. Confirm that the filter is operating and has been set up to support biological filtration.
2. Test ammonia and record zero mg per litre.
3. Test nitrite and record zero mg per litre.
4. Measure temperature, pH and hardness against the stated American-cichlid ranges.
5. Check the filter for blockages and make sure routine access is clear.

Add fish slowly because every increase in fish numbers and feeding requires the beneficial bacterial population to cope with more waste. Stocking too quickly or overstocking may lead to new tank syndrome, in which ammonia and nitrite rise because the biological filter cannot process the increased load.

A mature filter is not a substitute for maintenance. It works as part of a routine that controls feeding, removes waste and preserves the bacteria in the filter media.

Feed one controlled meal each day

American cichlids are generally omnivorous and often prefer meaty foods. Use specialised cichlid pellets or granules as the principal prepared food and supplement them with frozen or freeze-dried items. For smaller cichlids, examples in the group guidance include daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.

Feed once a day and offer only what the fish can eat within a few minutes. This timing gives a clear stopping rule: the correct meal is defined by what is consumed in that short period, not by how much the fish appears willing to take in one sitting.

Build a simple feeding decision

Overfeeding creates more faeces and may leave uneaten food to release toxic waste as it decomposes. A larger helping is therefore not an improvement when the fish already consumes an adequate meal within the stated time.

Keep the prepared and supplementary foods within the American-cichlid pattern rather than building an unnecessarily complicated menu. The essential decisions are a suitable cichlid food, measured portions, one feeding each day and observation of what is actually eaten.

When more fish are introduced, remember that increased feeding also increases the load on the biological filter. Adjust stocking slowly and continue checking ammonia and nitrite rather than increasing both fish numbers and food abruptly.

Complete a measured maintenance routine every week

Change 25% of the aquarium water at least once every week. Use a siphon to remove solid waste from the gravel or sand while taking out the water. Treat replacement tap water with a conditioner that removes harmful chlorine or chloramine before it enters the aquarium.

Weekly sequence

1. Test ammonia and nitrite and confirm both remain at zero mg per litre.
2. Measure nitrate against the normal tap-water value and keep it within 20 mg per litre above that baseline.
3. Check temperature, pH and hardness for stability within the stated ranges.
4. Remove 25% of the water while siphoning accumulated solid waste.
5. Condition the replacement water before adding it to the aquarium.
6. Check the filter for blockages and confirm normal operation.

If the filter needs cleaning, do not run it under the tap because any chlorine or chloramine present may kill the beneficial bacterial population that has established in the media. Instead, it should be rinsed lightly in the tank water which is removed during a partial water change, as this reduces the amount of bacteria which are lost.

Clear-looking water can still contain ammonia, nitrite or excess nitrate, so appearance cannot replace testing. The weekly measurements show whether the filter, feeding amount and stocking level are working together.

American cichlids may be stressed by even small amounts of ammonia. A reliable routine therefore protects the fish by preventing waste from becoming a visible emergency and by preserving the bacterial population that processes it.

Acclimatise slowly and keep bag water out of the aquarium

Arrange for someone to receive the parcel because live fish cannot be left unattended. The fish is hand-bagged in pure oxygen and packed in an insulated poly box, with a heat pack when the weather calls for it.

Follow our delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy throughout receipt and acclimatisation.

Arrival sequence

1. Receive the parcel in person.
2. Start filming before opening the sealed parcel, keeping the outer box visible. Continue in one take as the parcel is opened and show the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed.
3. Float the bag for 20–30 minutes.
4. Release the fish and never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Before the delivery, use OATA’s aquarium checks to confirm that the filter is working, ammonia and nitrite are zero and the water remains within the planned temperature, pH and hardness ranges. These checks belong in the preparation routine so the aquarium is ready before the sealed parcel is opened.

Introduction adds a new waste load to the aquarium. Keep later stocking gradual so the filter’s beneficial bacteria can adjust as fish numbers and feeding increase. The same caution applies whether this fish is the first occupant or an addition to an established aquarium.

Keep the arrival process simple and prepared. The aquarium should already meet the fish’s requirements; acclimatisation is not the time to finish maturing a filter or make major changes to the stocking plan.

Respond to changes in behaviour or appearance

Learn the fish’s normal behaviour and appearance by observing it consistently. Healthy fish should have clear, bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, appropriate swimming and no ulcerations or bumps. Regular observation makes a change easier to recognise.

Watch these indicators

• Swimming: hanging at the surface, sitting on the bottom or swimming erratically.
• Colour: becoming darker or paler than normal.
• Temperament: a change in aggression or more hiding than normal.
• Breathing: gill covers moving faster or slower than normal.
• Appearance: white spots, fluffy growths or loss of fins or scales.
• Condition: an increase or decrease in body weight and condition.
• Feeding: reduced intake or loss of interest in food.

If you see one of these changes, test the water promptly. Check ammonia and nitrite first because both should remain at zero, then review nitrate, temperature, pH and hardness against the normal readings for the aquarium.

Do not wait for several signs to appear before checking the aquarium. A single change from the fish’s normal pattern is enough reason to test. If you are concerned about the health of the fish after checking the water, contact us for further guidance.

Record test results and observations together. That connects what the fish is doing with the condition of the aquarium and gives a clearer basis for the next husbandry decision.

Screen every proposed companion before mixing fish

Mixing American cichlids can be difficult. Temperament varies across the group: calmer species may fit robust communities with larger shoaling fish, while more aggressive species may need to live alone or with equally aggressive cichlids. Treat every proposed mix as an individual stocking decision.

Use four screening questions

1. Do the water requirements overlap? Every occupant must be suitable for the same temperature, pH and hardness.
2. Does the adult-size plan fit? Compare adult measurements rather than the dispatch sizes shown by selectors.
3. Can the aquarium support the combined waste? More fish and more feeding require the biological filter to process a larger load.
4. What is the temperament plan? Be prepared to keep an aggressive individual alone when a mixed arrangement does not work.

The honest compatibility limit is that membership of the same broad cichlid group does not make two fish automatic companions. A matching temperature range is only one part of the decision, and a similar dispatch size says little about adult behaviour.

Do not use the Yellow Convict Cichlid’s recorded 6.4 cm maximum as proof that it will be passive. Size and temperament are separate screens. Observe the actual fish after introduction and respond to changed aggression, hiding, swimming or feeding.

A successful compatibility plan remains conditional throughout the fish’s time in the aquarium. Water tests show whether the biological load works; observation shows whether the behavioural arrangement works.

Choose a single fish or an assessed pair deliberately

OATA’s guidance says most American cichlids do better either singly or in pairs, while some particular species require different social arrangements. For this fish, use one animal or a deliberately assessed pair as the practical starting choice rather than assuming it should form a shoal.

One purchase supplies one animal, so a pair plan requires two purchases and an aquarium assessed for both fish. Use at least 120 litres as the American-cichlid planning reference for a pair of smaller species under 15 cm.

Compare the plans

Adding a second fish also adds feeding and waste. Increase stocking slowly so the beneficial bacteria in the filter can respond. Continue testing ammonia and nitrite for zero rather than assuming an established aquarium can absorb every addition immediately.

Sexing American cichlids varies by species, and some may show few external differences unless breeding. Base the purchase on the option wording and the intended care plan, not on colour, dispatch size or the gallery image.

If aggression rises, hiding increases or feeding changes, reassess the arrangement promptly. The appropriate response may be to keep an aggressive fish alone rather than persisting with a pair or community plan that is not working.

The pair reference should remain attached to its full context: at least 120 litres, suitable filtration, controlled stocking and close observation. It is not a guarantee that any two individual fish will live together successfully.

Answer the practical questions before choosing

How big does the Yellow Convict Cichlid get?

FishBase records Amatitlania nanolutea at a maximum of 6.4 cm standard length. Plan the aquarium around that adult reference rather than the 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm or 5-6 cm dispatch measurement.

What size aquarium does Amatitlania nanolutea need?

OATA’s group guidance recommends at least 120 litres for a pair of smaller American cichlid species under 15 cm. Assess a single fish against the whole stocking plan rather than mechanically halving that pair reference.

How many Yellow Convict Cichlids should I keep together?

OATA’s American-cichlid guidance says most members of the group do better singly or in pairs. Start with one fish or a deliberately assessed pair, and keep an aggressive individual alone if the arrangement does not remain workable.

Does this fish suit beginners?

OATA describes American cichlids as usually undemanding aquarium inhabitants that present relatively few keeping challenges, but their temperaments vary and some may be very aggressive. Choose this fish only if you can maintain a mature filter, test the water and respond to behavioural changes.

What does the Yellow Convict Cichlid eat?

OATA’s American-cichlid guidance recommends specialised cichlid pellets or granules with frozen or freeze-dried supplements such as daphnia, brine shrimp or bloodworm for smaller species. Feed only what it can eat within a few minutes, once a day.

What temperature and pH does Amatitlania nanolutea need?

OATA’s broad American-cichlid guidance gives 22–27°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and general hardness of 4–12°dH, not a species-specific optimum. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and nitrate no more than 20 mg per litre above the normal tap-water level.

Is the Yellow Convict Cichlid aggressive or likely to nip fins?

American-cichlid temperament varies, and some members of the group may be very aggressive. Monitor aggression, hiding, feeding and fin condition, then reassess the stocking plan and keep an aggressive individual alone when required.

Which kinds of animals can it live with?

Screen every proposed companion for adult size, water overlap, temperament, aquarium space and total biological load. Mixing American cichlids can be difficult, so contact us for a stocking and compatibility assessment of the exact animals you intend to keep together.

How does the Yellow Convict Cichlid arrive alive in the UK?

Someone must be present to receive it. Film every delivery continuously from the sealed parcel as it is opened, showing the fish still inside the sealed bag before anything is disturbed; then float the bag for 20–30 minutes, release the fish and never pour the bag water into the aquarium.

Consult the reference bibliography

• FishBase: Amatitlania nanolutea — scientific identity, family, freshwater environment, distribution and maximum recorded standard length.
• Wikipedia: Amatitlania — genus-level Central American natural history and size context.
• OATA: How to look after American cichlids — aquarium water, space, feeding, maintenance, introduction and compatibility guidance for the group.
• RSPCA aquarium environment guidance — biological filtration, waste conversion and aquarium welfare.
• Tropical Fish Co delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy — receipt, filming, floating time, bag-water handling and claim conditions.