Peacock cichlid care guide
Also called: Aulonocara, African peacock cichlid, Malawi peacock, OB peacock, Strawberry peacock, Dragon blood peacock, Sunshine peacock, Flavescent peacock
Peacock cichlids (Aulonocara) are Lake Malawi cichlids whose males shine blue, yellow, red or orange. They are calmer than mbuna and grow to about 5 in (13 cm). Keep them in hard, alkaline water in a 75-gallon (284 L) tank with open sand.
Peacock cichlids need a tank of at least 75 gallons (284 L), and water at 24–27°C (75–81°F) with a pH of 7.5–8.5. They grow to about 13 cm (5.1 in) and are semi-aggressive.
Plan a tank with peacock cichlidsSee all tank mates
Peacock cichlid quick facts
| Scientific name | Aulonocara spp. (and hybrids) |
|---|---|
| Family | Cichlidae |
| Origin | Lake Malawi, East Africa (many aquarium strains and hybrids are captive-bred only) |
| Adult size | 13 cm (5.1 in) |
| Minimum tank | 75 gallons (284 L), at least 120 cm (47 in) long |
| Temperature | 24–27°C (75–81°F) |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 |
| Hardness (GH) | 10–20 dGH |
| Group size | Alone, or 1 male with several females |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive; males fight each other |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 6–8 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | No, eats shrimp |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
- Needs sand or smooth, fine gravel to protect its barbels and belly.
Tank setup
Plan on at least 75 gallons (284 L) with a 4 ft (120 cm) by 18 in (45 cm) footprint for one male and a few females, and more for a mixed peacock or hap tank. Peacocks hunt by sifting sand, so use fine sand with open areas and a few stable rock caves. A darker substrate tends to bring out male color. Peacocks leave plants alone, so hard-water plants like Vallisneria and anubias are an option.
How many peacock cichlids in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits peacock cichlids is a 75 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Peacock cichlids (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | Too small |
| 29 gallon | Too small |
| 40 gallon | Too small |
| 55 gallon | Too small |
| 75 gallon | Up to 11 |
| 125 gallon | Up to 19 |
Numbers are bioload limits only. Males fight, so keep one male, alone or with several females.
What you need for peacock cichlids
Sized for a 75 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits peacock cichlids. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 75 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 75 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 626 lb (284 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- 2 adjustable heaters, 150 W each (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 78 °F (25.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). Two heaters keep the tank warm if one fails. How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Canister filter rated 450–750 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Heavily stocked or messy fish: 6–10 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 70 lb of aragonite sand (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 1.5 in (4 cm) deep. Aragonite helps keep the water hard and alkaline for rift lake cichlids. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 48 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for peacock cichlids
- Rocks for caves (holey or lace rock) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Rift lake cichlids need piles of rock to claim territories and break lines of sight.
- Spirulina cichlid pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)Plant-rich food for algae-grazing Malawi cichlids. Avoid high-protein foods for them.
- Caves and hides (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gives shy and territorial fish their own space.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 75 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Peacock cichlid can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Keep them at 24–27°C (75–81°F), pH 7.5–8.5 and hard water (10–20 dGH). Aragonite or crushed coral helps keep the pH steady. Good filtration and 30–50% weekly water changes keep them healthy and colorful.
Best tank mates for peacock cichlids
These popular species share peacock cichlids' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 2 good matches.
Electric yellow cichlid
10 cm (3.9 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)
Demasoni cichlid
8 cm (3.1 in) · 24–27°C (75–81°F)
Avoid keeping peacock cichlids with
- Angelfish: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Angelfish don't belong in that setup.
- Betta fish: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bettas don't belong in that setup.
- Bronze corydoras: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Bronze corydoras don't belong in that setup.
- Cherry shrimp: Peacock cichlid eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
- Common goldfish: They need different temperatures: Peacock cichlid 24–27°C (75–81°F), common goldfish 15–22°C (59–72°F).
- Dwarf gourami: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Dwarf gouramis don't belong in that setup.
Feeding
In the wild they find small invertebrates in the sand by sensing their movement. Feed a fine sinking cichlid pellet with some spirulina as the staple, plus frozen mysis, brine shrimp or daphnia. Give several small meals a day, and skip beef heart and other mammal meat.
Behavior
Peacocks are among the calmer African cichlids, but males defend a spot on the sand and fight males of similar color. Keep one male of each look, ideally with four or more females. Good tankmates are calm haps and mild mbuna like yellow labs. Most mbuna are too rough and fast at feeding time for them.
Breeding
Maternal mouthbrooders. The male digs a shallow pit and courts females, then the female carries the eggs and fry for three to four weeks and usually refuses food. Different Aulonocara species and strains crossbreed easily, so keep only one type of female if you want pure fry.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Keep at least four females for each male so no single female is harassed.
- Only mix males that look clearly different, and expect hybrids if several types of females share a tank.
- If you want rock fish too, choose mild mbuna like yellow labs. Aggressive mbuna bully peacocks.
- Many trade peacocks (OB, strawberry, dragon blood) are man-made hybrids. Don't sell their fry as a pure species.
- Females are plain gray-brown. Shops sell young fish before color shows, so ask for sexed fish.
Frequently asked questions
Can peacock cichlids live with mbuna?
Only with mild mbuna such as yellow labs. Most mbuna are too aggressive and grab all the food, so peacocks end up stressed and lose color.
How big do peacock cichlids get?
Males usually reach 5–6 in (13–15 cm), and females about 4 in (10 cm). A few species, such as Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, can grow a little larger.
What size tank do peacock cichlids need?
At least 75 gallons (284 L) and 4 ft (120 cm) long. A mixed peacock and hap community does better in 100–125 gallons (380–473 L) or more.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.