Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara stuartgranti
Cichlidae
About
The peacock cichlid is a stunning haplochromine endemic to Lake Malawi, where it patrols the sand-and-rock transition zone sifting invertebrates from the substrate. Dominant males blaze in metallic blues, oranges and yellows, while females stay a cryptic grey-brown. Milder than most mbuna, males are still fiercely territorial toward rivals and their own kind, so the species belongs in a hard-water, rock-and-sand Malawi setup kept as a harem rather than a soft-water community.
Care
Keep in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.4, high GH/KH) at 24-26 C in a tank of 280 L or more with open sand and rockwork. Best as a harem of one male to four or more females; house only in a Malawi-specific setup, not a soft-water community.
Diet
Carnivore that sand-sifts small invertebrates in the wild; offer cichlid pellets plus frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops, and avoid protein-heavy foods that cause bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (156)
Avoid (115)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- VentingStrong · only on a mature fish, easiest when she is in breeding condition
The method breeders use when the answer has to be right. Hold the fish upside down in a wet hand or soft net and look at the two openings ahead of the anal fin. The forward one is the anus; the one behind it is what you are reading.
- Egg spotsA hint only · from about 6 months
The yellow or orange ocelli on the anal fin of Malawi cichlids, traditionally explained as a lure that draws the female into mouthing them, fertilising the eggs she is already holding.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Peacock Cichlid need?
- A Peacock Cichlid needs an aquarium of at least 280 litres (74 US gallons) with a footprint at least 150 cm (59.1 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Peacock Cichlid need?
- Peacock Cichlid does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 7.5–8.6 and a general hardness of 10–25 °dGH.
- What group size does a Peacock Cichlid need?
- Peacock Cichlid is a social species — keep a group of at least 4 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Peacock Cichlid suitable for beginners?
- Peacock Cichlid sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.