Eureka red peacock

Care at a glance

Overview

It is mostly peaceful for a cichlid but males get territorial, especially when breeding, so give them a roomy tank of about 240 liters or more and keep one male with several females. They forage over the sand, sifting it for small invertebrates, so a fine sand bed matters. Feed quality cichlid pellets with some frozen food and a bit of vegetable matter. Avoid foods heavy in mammal protein, which Malawi cichlids handle poorly.

In the wild

Eureka red peacocks live along the rocky shores of Lake Malawi in East Africa, foraging over sand near rocks. The lake water is hard and alkaline, very stable, with few plants. Build the tank to match: a sandy bottom, piles of rock for caves and sight breaks, and hard water in the pH 7.5 to 8.5 range. Keep the water warm, in the mid to high 20s C.

Good to know

This is a Malawi cichlid in the family Cichlidae, an Aulonocara that reaches around 17 cm. Males show heavy red and blue color, while females stay drab. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female holding fertilized eggs and fry in her mouth for a few weeks until they are free swimming. Wild populations are stable.

Did you know

Aulonocara peacocks hunt using rows of sensory pores along the lower jaw. They hover motionless over the sand, sensing the tiny movements of buried invertebrates, then dart down and snap them up. It is closer to listening than looking.

Related species

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