What's the Best Cichlid for a beginner Fishkeeper?

If you're new to the hobby of Fishkeeping, and you've decided on Cichlid Fish, most likely you're doing some research to find out the best species for beginners.
What makes a fish good for a first timer is that they're low maintenance, and able to withstand changes in their environment. There are quite a few Cichlids on that list, but my top pick is the Zebra Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata.) 
On top of being one of the easiest to care for, they're not picky about what they eat, like some fish, and they don't require a special diet. They're able to tolerate when conditions fluctuate too much in one direction or the other, whereas some fish don't fare well at all. 
The reason these Convicts are my first recommendation is, in my opinion, they're the most interesting to watch. I've seen it said in many articles that they're a good species to observe if you want to learn about complex fish life.  They have been the focus in many scientific studies of animal behavior.
They have a structured social hierarchy, and a definite sense of family. Of all the Cichlid species, these hold my attention the most.    
They live from 8 to 10 years on average, but with above average care they will live longer. 
If you end up deciding that these are the fish for you, be sure to check out our Lace Rock. The color of the Lace coordinates with the gray and black on the Zebra Convicts and makes the whole setup look good. 
One last tip: Always research compatibility issues before putting other types of fish in with them because they are aggressive on a normal day and really aggressive if they have fry!