Smitten With Yellow Convict (cryptoheros Nanoluteus), Looking For Info

I've recently stumbled upon a neat little fish online- the yellow convict or cryptoheros nanoluteus, or archocentrus nanoluteus, but I'm having trouble finding adequate info on them or where to find them. The basics that I have found is that they will grow to about 4 inches, are "sensitive" or more sensitive than their convict cousins, best kept in pairs and are mildly aggressive but shy.

I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of them before, or has any experience. I'd like to know how they fair with other fish and how easy/ hard they are to keep, as I feel the descriptions I've gotten so far are a little vague. They seem to be hard to find, but a local fish store claims they can order them for me. This will be my first experience buying fish from them, so atm I am skeptical. I was sure to give them the scientific name, but I'm worried they may confuse my request with the normal convict.

What would be a fair price for this fish?? I also asked them about an electric blue acara, which they are selling for roughing $23. A bit steep, but better than Petsmart (which I can't find them there anymore) and cheaper than ordering a single fish online.

Please, any info would be helpful. I was really liking the "normal" convicts, but steered away due to their aggression and not wanting billions of fry. Now finding this yellow "convict," I'm honestly just smitten. Ideally, I'd love to have a single or pair with an EBA, possibly dithers, but with these guys I honestly wouldn't mind doing a species only tank if I had to. I'm just dying to know what it takes to care for these guys, and if they're reasonably priced

 

Giving this a bump up for you

 

Sorry I missed this earlier, don't know how that happened.

Currently it is classified as Amatitlania nanoluteus, but most information on the internet is going to use the two generic names you have above. Beautiful little fish, especially when spawning. I've bred them a few times, and I'd say keeping a group is a better idea than just a pair, so long as the are given adequate space. Currently have my last male in the big tank, he's big at about 3.5 inches in length, and his fins are very nice. He ended up there because he killed his mate.

Not an easy fish to obtain, as everyone who has seen them, wants them. While relatively easy to breed, they are not prolific; a big spawn might be 30-40 eggs. For a Convictoid Cichlid, that is a tiny spawn. Usually pretty good parents for a couple of weeks, then the male gets "in the mood" and starts pushing. That's what killed my last female, I didn't get the fry out soon enough. Currently available in the region thanks to the fry I have distributed, so auction prices are relatively low - maybe $5 for a bag of six 3/4 inch young. Store prices are closer to $7-8 apiece for one inch young.

They are not as shy and retiring as reported. The one I have in the 125 regularly faces off with fish bigger than himself (which is everything else in the tank). However, in a well planted tank with low ceiling caves for the female, they will be quite calm and friendly.

I guess I could post a photo or two to prove that I had them:

 

Wow... amazing. chromedome52 your the man they are gorgeous, never ever seen them in the uk and I've been to a lot of lfs. I have pink convict juvies at the moment I enjoy them but the parents had to get sold as I only had a pair and they were really getting strong and going at one another in my 55, wonder why I never seen those here besides the fact I don't know to look for them, these would grab my eye from 100 yards.

 

How many would be suitable for a 40 gallon breeder? Would a trio be better to disperse some of the "romance," or same sex? This will be my first time with any cichlid, and being so hard to find puts added pressure to make sure I get things right.

 

You could easily put three pairs in a 40 breeder. They do not have huge territorial requirements when compared to other Convict types, and are not going to hunt down others of their kind.

 

My brother in law had a yellow convict and it was pretty...he had it with a BP and they hung out. I didn't see much aggression toward each other at all...though I was pushed a lot by the BP when it came to food, but it was a very good looking fish.

 

You could easily put three pairs in a 40 breeder. They do not have huge territorial requirements when compared to other Convict types, and are not going to hunt down others of their kind.

Just for clarification.. did you mean a trio or a total of 6?? Would these guys work with cardinal tetras and cories, possibly?

I've also been asking about them around some FB groups and MonsterFishKeepers. Some of the reports I've gotten is they tend to kill their own kind? I've gotten conflicting info that cardinals would be ok, and some say they would not be.

 

My experience is that they do not kill their own if given adequate space. And yes, 3 pairs is 6 fish. Greatest risk is actually to their mate if a spawn is left too long. You could also try 2 males with 3-4 females. Problem is, females are not as numerous as the males.

I would not keep them with Cardinal Tetras, as those are from softer and warmer waters. Also the pH should be a little higher for Yellow Convicts. Corydoras are generally not a good choice with CA Cichlids, as there are no native Corys in those waters. So the territorial CA cichlids tend to be aggressive with other bottom dwelling fish.

 

My experience is that they do not kill their own if given adequate space. And yes, 3 pairs is 6 fish. Greatest risk is actually to their mate if a spawn is left too long. You could also try 2 males with 3-4 females. Problem is, females are not as numerous as the males.

I would not keep them with Cardinal Tetras, as those are from softer and warmer waters. Also the pH should be a little higher for Yellow Convicts. Corydoras are generally not a good choice with CA Cichlids, as there are no native Corys in those waters. So the territorial CA cichlids tend to be aggressive with other bottom dwelling fish.

Thanks for the response. Are there any dithers and/or clean up crew that would work with them?