Butterfly peacock bass
Cichla ocellaris
Also known as Peacock bass, Peacock cichlid, Lukanani, Tucunare, Eyespot cichlid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 29.1 in
- 74 cm
- Minimum tank
- 898 gal
- 3,400 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Coastal Guiana Shield rivers from the Marowijne in Suriname to the Essequibo in Guyana, plus the Branco River in Brazil, in warm rocky-bottomed reaches.
Overview
The butterfly peacock bass is a large, aggressive cichlid that needs a huge tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers only.
Did you know
The butterfly peacock bass is a prized sport fish. It has been introduced to warm waters worldwide, including Florida, Hawaii and Singapore.
Caring for the butterfly peacock bass
A single adult butterfly peacock bass needs at least 898 gal (3,400 L). It is an open-water predator that grows very large, so give it long, open swimming lanes. Juveniles are usually grown out in groups.
Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. These fish are large, messy eaters, so provide strong filtration. Feed meaty foods and pellets built for predators. Avoid live feeder fish, which carry disease.
The butterfly peacock bass is aggressive, and anything small in the tank becomes prey. Tank mates must be large and robust. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The butterfly peacock bass, Cichla ocellaris, was described by Bloch and Schneider in 1801. The name was long applied across the whole genus, so many aquarium fish sold as ocellaris are actually Cichla monoculus or Cichla kelberi. Adults carry three dark bars and an eyespot on the tail.
In the wild
The butterfly peacock bass is native to coastal rivers of the Guiana Shield, from the Marowijne in Suriname to the Essequibo in Guyana. It also lives in the Branco River in Brazil. There it hunts in warm, rocky-bottomed river stretches and quiet pools.
Common questions
What size tank does a butterfly peacock bass need?
A butterfly peacock bass needs at least 898 gal (3,400 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a butterfly peacock bass need?
A butterfly peacock bass is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a butterfly peacock bass eat?
A butterfly peacock bass eats meaty foods and pellets built for predators. Do not feed it live feeder fish, which carry disease.
How big does a butterfly peacock bass get?
An adult butterfly peacock bass reaches about 29.1 in (74 cm).
Related species
27.6 in (70 cm)898 gal (3,400 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Monoculus peacock bass
Cichla monoculus
27.6 in (70 cm) · 898 gal (3,400 L)
24.4 in (62 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Orinoco peacock bass
Cichla orinocensis
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23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Kelberi peacock bass
Cichla kelberi
23.6 in (60 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
39 in (99 cm)898 gal (3,400 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Speckled peacock bass
Cichla temensis
39 in (99 cm) · 898 gal (3,400 L)
18.9 in (48 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Blue peacock bass
Cichla piquiti
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14.2 in (36 cm)317 gal (1,200 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Xingu peacock bass
Cichla melaniae
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