Gold Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nanolutea "Gold") – Locally Bred
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For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout.
The Gold Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nanolutea) is a rare and stunning variation of the convict group, notable for its compact size and golden yellow coloration. Unlike the more common Convict Cichlid, this species remains smaller and is less aggressive, making it a unique addition for aquarists who enjoy Central American cichlids but want something more manageable. Our specimens are locally bred, ensuring excellent health, adaptability, and sustainability.
What We Love About This Fish:
• Bright Gold Coloration – Striking yellow body with subtle vertical barring.
• Smaller Size – Reaches only about 3–4 inches, perfect for mid-sized aquariums.
• Pair Bonding – Forms strong pairs and shows excellent parental care.
• Locally Bred – Healthier, hardier, and raised in aquarium conditions.
Natural Habitat:
The wild form of this species is native to rivers and streams of Costa Rica and Panama, where it inhabits slow-moving waters with sandy or rocky bottoms. This locally bred variety retains the same vibrant personality and behaviors but is more adaptable to community aquariums.
Aquascaping:
Creating the right environment for Gold Convict Cichlids is about combining function with beauty. These fish love to explore, claim territories, and dig when preparing to spawn, so the aquascape should reflect their natural behavior.
• Plants: Choose sturdy, resilient plants like Anubias, Java Fern, or Vallisneria that can be attached to rocks and driftwood instead of planted directly in the substrate. Since Gold Convicts may uproot softer plants while digging, epiphyte plants or potted arrangements are the most reliable choices. Floating plants like Frogbit can provide shade and help diffuse light, giving the fish a more natural environment.
• Hardscape: Rocky caves, stacked stones, and driftwood are essential. These structures not only provide shelter and breeding sites but also help break up line of sight, reducing aggression between pairs or tank mates. Smooth river rocks and slate are especially effective for creating spawning surfaces and territorial boundaries.
• Botanicals: Natural additions like Indian Almond Leaves, Catappa Bark, or alder cones enrich the water with beneficial tannins and humic substances while offering subtle hiding spots for fry. These botanicals create a more natural look and release compounds that can support overall fish health and well-being.
Diet and Feeding:
The Gold Convict Cichlid is an omnivore. It thrives on a balanced diet of high-quality cichlid pellets, flakes, frozen foods (bloodworms, brine shrimp), and live foods. Vegetables such as blanched spinach or spirulina-based foods will enhance color and digestion.
Tank Mates and Compatibility:
Best housed as a bonded pair or with other similarly sized Central American cichlids in larger tanks. While less aggressive than standard Convicts, they are still territorial, especially when breeding. Avoid housing with delicate or very small species.
Shrimp Compatibility:
Not recommended for shrimp tanks. This species will prey on shrimp, including adults.
Breeding:
Breeds readily in aquariums. Pairs form strong bonds and exhibit classic cichlid parental care, guarding eggs and fry aggressively. Eggs are usually laid on flat rock surfaces and hatch in 3–4 days. Fry are free-swimming within a week and can be fed on baby brine shrimp or powdered food.
Recommended Tank Parameters:
• Temperature: 75° – 82° F (24° – 28° C)
• pH: 7.0 – 8.0
• KH: 8 – 15 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons for a pair
Care Guidelines:
• Diet: Omnivorous; thrives on a varied diet of pellets, frozen, and live foods.
• Social Behavior: Territorial when breeding; best kept as a pair or with similarly sized cichlids.
• Origin: Locally bred in the USA.
• Average Adult Size: 3 – 4 inches (7.5 – 10 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)
Add a brilliant splash of golden color and fascinating behavior to your aquarium with the Gold Convict Cichlid – Locally Bred, a sustainable and hardy choice for cichlid enthusiasts.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!
What makes the Gold Convict Cichlid different from standard Convicts?
The biggest difference is coloration. Instead of the classic black-and-white bars, Gold Convicts show warm yellow to gold tones while keeping the same bold body shape and personality convicts are known for.
Are Gold Convict Cichlids locally bred?
Yes. These are locally bred fish, which means they’re raised in aquarium conditions rather than imported. That usually translates to better hardiness and easier adjustment to home tanks.
How big do Gold Convict Cichlids get?
They stay relatively compact for cichlids. Most adults reach around 4–5 inches, making them manageable even in medium-sized aquariums.
Are Gold Convict Cichlids aggressive?
They can be territorial, especially during breeding. Outside of spawning, they’re usually bold but manageable. During breeding, they will actively defend their space, which is typical convict behavior.
Can Gold Convict Cichlids live in a community tank?
They can, but tank mates should be chosen carefully. They do best with other sturdy, similarly sized fish that won’t be easily intimidated or harassed.
Do Gold Convict Cichlids dig or rearrange the tank?
Yes—and enthusiastically. They like to dig, move substrate, and claim caves. A secure hardscape and sand or fine gravel work best.
What kind of tank setup do Gold Convict Cichlids prefer?
They appreciate rockwork, caves, and clear territories. Plants may be uprooted unless they’re well anchored or attached to hardscape.
What do Gold Convict Cichlids eat?
They’re not picky. A quality pellet works well as a staple, with frozen or live foods offered occasionally for variety. They also appreciate some vegetable content in their diet.
Are Gold Convict Cichlids easy to breed?
Very. They’re known as one of the easiest cichlids to breed. Pairs form readily, and both parents actively guard eggs and fry.
Who are Gold Convict Cichlids best suited for?
They’re great for hobbyists who enjoy personality and behavior as much as appearance. If you like interactive fish and don’t mind a little attitude, Gold Convicts are a rewarding choice.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
