All fish / Cichlidae

Red Shoulder Peacock

Aulonocara hansbaenschi

Also known as red shoulder peacock cichlid, flametail peacock, nkhomo-benga peacock, aulonocara hansbaenschi, benga peacock, hansbaenschi peacock, オーロノカラ・ハンスバエンスキー, 红肩孔雀鲷

Males show a metallic blue head and body with faint dark bars and a bright yellow to orange red patch behind the gills, while females are plain greyish brown. It is a popular peacock cichlid because of its striking colour and fairly calm nature compared with mbuna.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and small crustaceans; avoid heavy red meats

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well kept tank with several females per male.

Good to know

Males are territorial towards each other and similar coloured fish; avoid mixing with other Aulonocara species as they hybridise easily.