Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara sp.
Min Tank Size
200L
Adult Size
15 cm
Lifespan
8 years
About
Peacock cichlids come from Lake Malawi in East Africa, where dozens of Aulonocara species and color variants have been collected and selectively bred over decades. Males are genuinely stunning fish. Depending on the variety, you might be looking at metallic blues, deep reds, fiery oranges, or OB (orange blotch) marbling across the flanks. Females are a plain silver-brown by comparison, which catches a lot of beginners off guard when they buy juveniles and end up with a mostly gray tank. Color in males develops around 7 to 10 cm, often intensifying further as they mature and establish dominance.
6 with significant general and carbonate hardness. Crushed coral substrate or aragonite sand helps buffer the water naturally.
Diet-wise, peacocks are carnivores that hunt invertebrates by listening for them in the sand. High-protein pellets, frozen cyclops, and mysis shrimp suit them well. Skip the plant-heavy setups since heavy plantings don't match their natural habitat anyway, and some individuals will uproot or graze on softer plants. A rocky hardscape with open sandy areas is ideal and mimics their native benthic hunting grounds.
Compared to mbuna, peacocks are noticeably calmer toward tankmates, which makes them one of the more approachable African cichlid groups for hobbyists moving up from community fish. Browse real Peacock cichlid tank builds to see how hobbyists balance colorful male displays with practical rockwork.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Peacock Cichlid together
Peacock Cichlid is strongly territorial. Multiples fight over space unless the tank is large enough for each to claim its own area. A single individual is the safer default.
Compatibility
Peacocks work well alongside other Aulonocara species, Copadichromis, and peaceful Haplochromis from Lake Malawi. They're a reasonable match for many Haps in a mixed Malawi display. Avoid mbuna entirely since mbuna are far more aggressive and will harass and outcompete peacocks relentlessly. Tanganyikan cichlids can sometimes coexist if water parameters overlap, but mixing rift lake species takes experience. Synodontis catfish make great tank companions since they share the same water requirements and handle themselves fine without provoking the cichlids. Shrimp and small community fish are absolutely not compatible.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The most common beginner mistake is underfiltering. Peacocks are messy eaters and a standard filter rated for the tank volume often isn't enough. Overspec your filtration and do consistent weekly water changes. New hobbyists also underestimate how fast pH can crash in a tank without proper buffering. Using plain inert sand without buffering substrate invites slow acidification. Crushed coral mixed into the substrate or a dedicated buffer solution keeps parameters stable. Don't overfeed with protein-heavy foods daily since this elevates ammonia quickly and can cause bloat, which is difficult to treat in cichlids.
Behavior & Aggression
Peacocks are mild by African cichlid standards but males will absolutely fight each other, particularly when two males of the same species or similar coloration share a tank. Aggression usually looks like chasing and jaw-locking rather than sustained fin destruction. It spikes during spawning, when a dominant male corners a female or guards a territory aggressively. Larger tanks with broken sightlines reduce this considerably. Keeping only one male per color variant and providing enough rockwork for subdominant fish to escape is the most reliable way to keep peace.
Things to Know
- Males fight each other, especially in small tanks. Keep one male per species.
- Can hybridize easily with other Aulonocara species. House carefully.
- Mouth brooders. Females hold fry and may stop eating for 3+ weeks.
- Females are drab brown. Only males display vivid color.
- Requires hard, alkaline water (high pH/GH/KH).
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