Convict Cichlid - Hump on the Head

In the aquarium world, when one talks about humps, the first thing that comes to mind, is the Flower horn. That's one of the cichlid species that has been cross bred with different varieties of cichlids in order to achieve this characteristic.

But here, I'm not going to talk about the Flower horn Cichlid. Instead, I will talk about the Convict Cichlid. I have kept Convict Cichlids long enough to notice the adult males developing humps on their heads.

Who Gets the Crown?

I have noticed that it's mostly the adult dominant male that gets the hump on his head. He should have spawned at least once or twice. The hump seems like a sign of maturity, supremacy and respect. Probably in the presence of a mate, some hormonal changes are responsible for this growth. This in turn makes him look more intimidating and the other's keep away from his cave. This crown makes a Convict Cichlid very elegant. I've also noticed that the females will give first preference to size and hump.

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He Lost His Crown

This hump is not permanent. I have noticed males losing the hump over a period of time. This could happen probably, if there's another dominant male around or if separated from his queen. Probably depression or stress causes this. There could also be a possibility that in the absence of competition, he could lose his hump too, as he doesn't get a chance to display aggression. Aggression and fights result in chemical changes in the body that could promote the development of a hump on the head.

But the standard rule is that if he's got a hump, then things are going pretty much good for him.