In particular, the species occurs along the eastern coast of Central America from Guatemala to Costa Rica, and on the western coast from Honduras to Panama.[1] Convict cichlids prefer moving water, and are most frequently found in habitats with cover in the form of rocks or sunken branches.[19] At four natural habitats of the convict cichlid in Costa Rica, the pH was found to range from 6.6–7.8, while carbonate hardness (KH) ranged from 63 to 77 ppm CaCO 3.