All fish / Cichlidae

Aulonocara Usisya

Aulonocara stuartgranti

Also known as flavescent peacock, usisya peacock, aulonocara brevinidus, brevinidus peacock, red flush peacock, aulonocara stuartgranti usisya, sunshine peacock, オーロノカラ, 孔雀鲷, ปลาหมอสีมาลาวี

Aulonocara brevinidus is now treated as a synonym of Aulonocara stuartgranti, and the name mainly refers to forms such as the Usisya peacock. Mature males have a metallic blue head and body with a yellow or orange flush, while females are plain brownish grey with faint bars. Keepers like it as one of the calmer, very colourful Malawi peacocks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 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

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder; the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Breeding comes easily in a well kept tank with several females to one male.

Good to know

Do not keep with other Aulonocara species or similar haplochromines, as they hybridise readily. Mbuna are usually too rough to share a tank with them.