Sunshine peacock cichlid
Aulonocara baenschi
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 63 gal
- 240 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
Overview
The sunshine peacock cichlid is one of the smaller Aulonocara peacocks, and it is calmer than most rift-lake cichlids. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
Aulonocara peacocks hunt by holding still over the sand and reading vibrations through sensory pores on the lower jaw and head. They then dart down to grab small invertebrates buried just under the surface. That sensing system is why they spend so much time hovering low over open sand.
Caring for the sunshine peacock cichlid
Give sunshine peacock cichlids at least 63 gal (240 L), and keep one male with several females. Use a sand bottom they can dig in, some rock piles for structure and open swimming space. They work the lower and middle water, cruising the sand for food.
Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Feed quality cichlid pellets and flakes with occasional frozen brine shrimp, and skip foods heavy in mammal protein.
Males get territorial when breeding, so house the sunshine peacock with other peaceful-leaning peacocks rather than aggressive mbuna. Males show strong yellow and blue color, while females stay plain brown.
It is a maternal mouthbrooder, and the female holds the fertilized eggs and fry in her mouth. She keeps them for a few weeks, until they can fend for themselves. Breeding is a moderate challenge.
Good to know
The sunshine peacock cichlid is a Malawi cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Its wild populations are considered stable.
In the wild
The sunshine peacock comes from Lake Malawi in East Africa. It lives over sand and rubble near rocky outcrops in fairly shallow water, and the lake is hard and alkaline.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The sunshine peacock cichlid is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. 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 sunshine peacock cichlid need?
A sunshine peacock cichlid needs at least 63 gal (240 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a sunshine peacock cichlid need?
A sunshine peacock cichlid is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a sunshine peacock cichlid eat?
A sunshine peacock cichlid eats quality cichlid pellets and flakes, with occasional frozen brine shrimp. Skip foods heavy in mammal protein.
How big does a sunshine peacock cichlid get?
An adult sunshine peacock cichlid reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
How can you tell a male sunshine peacock cichlid from a female?
Males show strong yellow and blue color, while females stay plain brown.
How does a sunshine peacock cichlid breed?
The sunshine peacock cichlid is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female holds the fertilized eggs and fry in her mouth for a few weeks, until they can fend for themselves.
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