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Convict cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Convict cichlids have been recorded in a shallow urban lake in Western Australia, the Hazelwood Power Station cooling ponds in Victoria, and the Ross River near Townsville. Their popularity in the aquarium trade and ability to persist in some warm waters create a risk of further introductions.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, fish.

Native to: Central America, from El Salvador and Honduras to Guatemala.

Established in: VIC.

Other names: Zebra cichlid, Convict fish, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum, Archocentrus nigrofasciatus.

Identification

  • A small, deep-bodied freshwater fish, usually pale blue-grey with about seven dark vertical bars along each side.
  • The bars vary in strength and some may appear blotched or Y-shaped; a dark spot is present on the gill cover.
  • The fins are usually clear or pale blue-grey, and large males may have strong dark bars and extended rays at the rear of the dorsal and anal fins.
  • Adults can reach about 10 cm standard length; a common reported length is about 8.5 cm total length.
  • Look-alike: Other barred cichlids may look similar; check for the combination of a pale blue-grey body, dark vertical bars and a dark spot on the gill cover.

Where it lives

In Australia it has been recorded in a shallow urban lake in Western Australia, power-station cooling ponds in Victoria, and the Ross River near Townsville.

Why it matters

  • Convict cichlids are aggressive and territorial, particularly around breeding sites, and may compete with native fish for nesting areas and food.
  • In Mexico, introduced convict cichlids have been associated with displacement of native fish and changes to their feeding and activity.
  • In Hawaiian streams, native aquatic species have been reported as rare or absent in areas where convict cichlids are present.

How it spreads

  • Release or escape from aquariums is a likely pathway for introductions because the species is popular in the aquarium trade.
  • Escape from ornamental fish farms can also move fish into nearby waters; use as fishing bait has been implicated in its spread in Hawaii.
  • Do not release aquarium fish, eggs, plants or water into drains or natural waterways.

Control methods

  • If fish are found, record the location and take clear photographs; report the detection to the relevant state or territory biosecurity or fisheries agency.
  • Use targeted capture, such as nets or traps, only where permitted and with methods approved by the relevant authority.
  • Arrange humane disposal through the relevant authority and do not transfer captured fish to another waterway or release them elsewhere.
  • Check the site again after removal and follow up with the relevant authority to assess whether further fish remain.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Do not move live fish, eggs or water between waterways; empty aquarium water onto land away from drains and waterways.
  • Clean and dry nets, traps, boats and other wet gear before moving between sites, and dispose of any collected material securely.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: General biosecurity duty. Not prohibited matter in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Not a declared pest. Not on an NT declared or prohibited list. Check with the NT Government before keeping, moving or releasing it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria

Sources