Night aulonocara
Aulonocara hueseri
Also known as White top aulonocara, Hueseri peacock, Midnight peacock
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–81°F
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 63 gal
- 240 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, Likoma Island
Overview
The night aulonocara is a peaceful peacock cichlid from Lake Malawi that forages along the bottom. It needs a little experience to keep well.
Did you know
Peacock cichlids like the night aulonocara hunt by hovering over the sand. They sense the movement of buried invertebrates through a row of enlarged pores along the lower jaw, then strike down to snap them up.
Caring for the night aulonocara
Give the night aulonocara at least 63 gal (240 L), with an open floor of fine sand for foraging. Add rockwork for shelter and spawning, where the male can hold a territory. Keep the lighting subdued, since softer light shows its colors at their best.
The water should be hard and alkaline, at 75 to 81°F (24 to 27°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed small sinking foods such as quality granules, frozen cyclops, brine shrimp and mysis.
Keep a harem of one male with several females. The night aulonocara is mild-mannered and forages over sand near the rocks. It mixes best with other calm Malawi cichlids, rather than rowdy mbuna that will outmuscle it.
It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female broods the eggs and fry in her mouth. Its breeding difficulty is moderate.
Good to know
The night aulonocara, Aulonocara hueseri, is a peacock cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Males wear a blue face over gold flanks with a white-edged dorsal fin, which is the source of the white top trade name.
In the wild
The night aulonocara comes from deeper sandy areas near rock around Likoma Island in Lake Malawi. The lake water is hard and alkaline, and the deeper water there is dimmer.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The night aulonocara is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Common questions
What size tank does a night aulonocara need?
A night aulonocara needs at least 63 gal (240 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a night aulonocara need?
A night aulonocara is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a night aulonocara eat?
A night aulonocara eats small sinking foods, such as quality granules and frozen cyclops, brine shrimp and mysis.
How big does a night aulonocara get?
An adult night aulonocara reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
How does a night aulonocara breed?
A night aulonocara is a maternal mouthbrooder, so the female carries the eggs and then the fry in her mouth. Breeding it is moderately difficult.
Related species
3.9 in (10 cm)63 gal (240 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blue gold peacock
Aulonocara korneliae
3.9 in (10 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)63 gal (240 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Blue orchid peacock
Aulonocara kandeense
3.9 in (10 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)
4.1 in (10.5 cm)63 gal (240 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Red shoulder peacock
Aulonocara hansbaenschi
4.1 in (10.5 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)63 gal (240 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Konings' peacock
Aulonocara koningsi
4.3 in (11 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)Sulfurhead peacock
Aulonocara maylandi
4.3 in (11 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)63 gal (240 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Chitande aulonocara
Aulonocara ethelwynnae
3.5 in (9 cm) · 63 gal (240 L)