Assorted Peacocks 7-8cm - (No Online Purchases)

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Aulonocara species from Lake Malawi. They are prized for their shimmering, metallic colors—often called the "jewels of the aquarium"—and are generally more peaceful than their cousins, the Mbuna (rock-dwellers).

1. Tank Setup & Water Parameters
Peacock cichlids are active swimmers and territorial, so they need horizontal space more than vertical height.

Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons (4 feet long) for a small group; 75+ gallons is much better for long-term success.

Substrate: Use fine sand. Peacocks are "sifters"—they take mouthfuls of sand to look for food. Coarse gravel can damage their gills.

Hardscape: Use rocks to create caves and "sight breaks," but leave plenty of open swimming space in the center.

Water Chemistry: They require hard, alkaline water.

pH: 7.8 – 8.6

Temperature: 76°F – 82°F (24°C – 28°C)

Hardness:High (GH 150-300 ppm)

2. Managing Aggression: The "All-Male" Dilemma
When you buy "assorted" peacocks, you are often getting a mix of males and females. This leads to two common strategies:

Mixed Gender: Keep 1 male to every 3–4 females. This prevents the male from harassing a single female to death. Note: Females are usually a plain, silvery-brown color.

All-Male Show Tank: This is the most popular choice for "assorted" buys. Since only males have the bright colours, keepers stock only males.

Tip: To make this work, you must overstock the tank (with heavy filtration). This "controlled crowding" prevents any one fish from establishing a dominant territory and bullying others.

3. Diet & Feeding
Peacocks are omnivores but lean toward being insectivores/carnivores.

Primary Food: High-quality sinking cichlid pellets or flakes.

Treats: Frozen brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, or daphnia.

What to Avoid: Avoid Tubifex worms or mammalian proteins (like beef heart), which can cause "Malawi Bloat," a potentially fatal digestive issue.

4. Compatible Tank Mates
If you want to add variety beyond Peacocks, look for fish that share their water requirements and temperament:

Haps (Haplochromis): Usually larger, open-water swimmers that get along well with Peacocks.

Synodontis Catfish: Specifically Synodontis multipunctatus (Cuckoo Catfish) or S. petricola.

Peacock 

• Origin: Lake Malawi
• Adult Size: 16cm
• Social: Peaceful with similarly sized fish
• Lifespan:
• Tank Level: Mid Level
• Minimum Tank Size:
• Diet:
• Care: Easy
• pH:
• Temperature: