Kelberi peacock bass
Cichla kelberi
Also known as Yellow peacock bass, Golden peacock bass
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–86°F
- 25–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 23.6 in
- 60 cm
- Minimum tank
- 396 gal
- 1,500 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Substrate spawner · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Tocantins and Araguaia basins, Brazil
Overview
The Kelberi peacock bass is often sold as the beginner peacock bass, which is misleading. A juvenile is charming, but it grows into a large, aggressive fish that needs a huge tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.
Did you know
The Kelberi peacock bass has spangled fins that glow faintly gold, even when the fish is at rest. Its body is built like a torpedo.
Caring for the Kelberi peacock bass
Give a Kelberi peacock bass at least 396 gal (1,500 L), with a long open swimming run. Match the filtration to its heavy, meaty diet, and keep the oxygen high.
Keep the water at 77 to 86°F (25 to 30°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed prepared and frozen foods on a schedule rather than live fish.
Keep just one, since it is aggressive and solitary. Choose tank mates with caution, and only ones too large to be eaten. It is a substrate spawner, and both parents care for the young. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
The Kelberi peacock bass, Cichla kelberi, is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae. It is gold-green, with three dark blotches along the flank and pale spots on the fins. It has been widely introduced outside its native basins for sport fishing. There it has caused significant declines in native fish.
In the wild
The Kelberi peacock bass lives in the Tocantins and Araguaia basins of Brazil. It holds warm open water along channels, lagoons and reservoirs.
Common questions
What size tank does a Kelberi peacock bass need?
A Kelberi peacock bass needs at least 396 gal (1,500 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Kelberi peacock bass need?
A Kelberi peacock bass is comfortable at 77–86°F (25–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a Kelberi peacock bass eat?
A Kelberi peacock bass eats a heavy, meaty diet of prepared and frozen foods. Feed it on a schedule, and skip live fish.
How big does a Kelberi peacock bass get?
An adult Kelberi peacock bass reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).
How does a Kelberi peacock bass breed?
The Kelberi peacock bass is a substrate spawner, and both parents look after the young. Breeding it is hard.
Related species
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Cichla orinocensis
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Cichla ocellaris
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Cichla piquiti
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39 in (99 cm)898 gal (3,400 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Speckled peacock bass
Cichla temensis
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