Identifying aulonocara species

[zenki]

I'm curious about peacock cichlids - does anyone here have experience with them. I've searched the forum but couldn't find much, so I'd love to hear from people who actually keep them.

[waveborn]

You're looking for info on peacock cichlids, so I'll give you the lowdown. I've got a lot to share, but I'll try to keep it concise. If you're already familiar with lake Malawi cichlids, you're halfway there.

A minimum tank size of 50 gallons is a must, but I'd recommend 75 gallons or more. The setup is similar to Malawi tanks, but with less rockwork and more open space. If you plan to keep females, stick to one type to avoid interbreeding and ending up with hybrids that are hard to sell.

For an all-male tank, you can mix and match different types, but choose ones with distinct colorings. Some peacocks get along better than others, but they tend to be aggressive towards similar colors or their own kind. I've found that Auloncara are less aggressive, but still produce a lot of waste, so you'll want a strong filter with high gph turnover.

Overall, peacock cichlids are amazing fish - active, colorful, and a joy to keep. The females might be a bit dull, but the males make up for it. I've got a few pictures of my own, including a German red, a Benga yellow, and a Jacobfreibergi "Eureka" - they're much more vibrant now that they've grown out.

[zenki]

Thanks waveborn, I appreciate the info. Do peacocks tend to be plant destroyers or can they coexist with some greenery? I've had issues with other cichlids tearing up plants in the past.

As for aggression, how do they generally behave towards other fish? Are they pretty chill or do they need to be kept separate from more peaceful community fish?

Also, what's the average size of a fully grown peacock cichlid? I want to make sure I've got enough space for them to thrive.

[reefstar]

I'd like to add a few points to what waveborn covered. One key thing is that Aulonocara shouldn't be mixed with Mbuna as they're less aggressive and have different requirements - they need fewer rocks and more open water. Mbuna are naturally more pushy, competing for space and food, and they can bully or scare the less assertive Aulonocara, making it harder for them to settle and feed.

I completely agree with waveborn on keeping a single species if you plan to mix males and females. Be wary of hybrids in shops, often sold as "Peacock Cichlids" without a Latin name, or with an incorrect one. You'll likely pay a premium for good quality stock, but it's worth it - go for quality over price. With a good group of males and females, they'll breed quickly, and selling pure-bred offspring can offset the initial expense.

As for tankmates, Aulonocara mix well with non-Mbuna Malawian cichlids, like haplochromines. While you often see them mixed with Mbuna, it's not ideal unless the tank is huge and you've chosen less aggressive Mbuna varieties - Labidochromis caeruleus and Iodotropheus sprengerae are good examples. Even then, it's best to avoid mixing Peacocks and Mbuna unless the tank is very large and has plenty of rockwork and open water.

[slyzen]

Here's a helpful resource for identifying Aulonocara - check out this page: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=3

[waveborn]

I'm curious about peacock cichlids - does anyone here have experience with them. I've searched the forum but couldn't find much, so I'd love to hear from people who actually keep them.

reefstar had some great info there, spot on.

Although you won't often see them in their natural habitat, they tend to be better with plants than Mbuna, but they will sift the sand a bit, so if you must have some, stick to hardy or cheap plants. They're on the low end of aggression, unless kept with females or other colored males of their own variety, then they become much more aggressive.

reefstar covered the species versus community tank, so I won't go into that. As for tankmates, they mix well with non-Mbuna Malawi cichlids, particularly the haplochromines. I'd advise sticking to these or other African rift lake species, personally, I only keep Lake Malawi species in my tanks, but some Lake Tanganyika or Lake Victoria species could work too.

Labidochromis caeruleus do fine, but most other Mbuna are best avoided. Synodontis cats make good bottom feeders, I'd avoid BN plecos, I've had some bad experiences with those. Most peacocks get to about 6" give or take.