All fish / Cichlidae

Aulonocara rostratum

Aulonocara rostratum

Also known as rostratum peacock, long-nosed peacock, aulonocara rostratum chilumba, rostratum cichlid, アウロノカラ・ロストラトゥム, 长鼻孔雀鲷

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A large, long-snouted peacock cichlid from the sandy shallows of Lake Malawi, where it sifts sand for buried invertebrates using sensory pores on its head. Mature males take on a metallic blue face with yellow or greyish flanks and faint vertical bars, while females stay a plain silvery brown. It is kept as a bigger, calmer alternative to mbuna for spacious Malawi setups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

15 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with three or more females

Diet

Carnivore: sinking pellets, frozen mysis, brine shrimp, bloodworm and other small invertebrates

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 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 after spawning over a cleared patch of sand. Breeding is fairly straightforward in a well-kept tank with several females per male.

Good to know

Males can be territorial towards other peacocks and similar-looking haps, and it may hybridise with other Aulonocara, so avoid mixing species. Needs open sand and plenty of swimming room as it grows larger than most peacocks.