All fish / Cichlidae

Emperor Peacock Cichlid

Aulonocara nyassae

Also known as emperor cichlid, african peacock, blue peacock cichlid, nyassa peacock, peacock cichlid, aulonocara nyasae, ปลาหมอสีมาลาวี, アウロノカラ・ニアッサエ, 帝王孔雀鲷, 孔雀鲷

Males are a metallic blue with faint dark vertical bars and often a yellow or orange flush, while females are plain greyish brown. It is kept for its striking colour and its milder nature compared with many mbuna, suiting a Malawi community of similar peaceful haps and peacocks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with three or more females

Diet

Carnivore: quality cichlid pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp and small crustaceans

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 around three weeks. Breeding is fairly easy in a well kept tank with several females per male.

Good to know

Males are territorial towards other blue males and can hybridise readily with other Aulonocara, so avoid mixing peacock species if you want pure stock. The name has historically been applied loosely to several peacocks in the trade.