Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara stuartgranti
Cichlidae
About
The peacock cichlid is a stunning haplochromine endemic to Lake Malawi, where it patrols the sand-and-rock transition zone sifting invertebrates from the substrate. Dominant males blaze in metallic blues, oranges and yellows, while females stay a cryptic grey-brown. Milder than most mbuna, males are still fiercely territorial toward rivals and their own kind, so the species belongs in a hard-water, rock-and-sand Malawi setup kept as a harem rather than a soft-water community.
Care
Keep in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.4, high GH/KH) at 24-26 C in a tank of 280 L or more with open sand and rockwork. Best as a harem of one male to four or more females; house only in a Malawi-specific setup, not a soft-water community.
Diet
Carnivore that sand-sifts small invertebrates in the wild; offer cichlid pellets plus frozen brine shrimp, mysis and cyclops, and avoid protein-heavy foods that cause bloat.
Tankmate compatibility
Possible with care (106)
Avoid (15)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.