Jacob's Peacock

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi

Family : Cichlidae

FishFreshwaterpeacock

A colorful African cichlid, appreciated for its bright hues and interesting behavior. It is relatively peaceful for a Malawi cichlid.

Jacob's Peacock — photo 1 sur 1
Lerdsuwa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.01 / 1
Popularity
Biotope specialist
requires biotope recreation
Availability
Specialty only
Shop availability
IUCN Status
LC
Least Concern
Biotope
Lake Malawi
Lac africain, eau dure alcaline, cichlidés endémiques.

Description

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi reaches up to 15 cm. Males display spectacular coloration: blue head, yellow-orange body with metallic reflections. Females are gray-brown. It is a bottom-dwelling fish that sifts through sand for food. It is territorial but less aggressive than other Malawi cichlids. It forms harems with one dominant male and several females. In the aquarium, it can coexist with other Aulonocara or peaceful cichlids of similar size.

Habitat

Region :

Rocky and intermediate zones of Lake Malawi, with hard, alkaline water.

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2428 °C
pH7.58.5
GH1020 °dGH
KH815 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
3/5
Diet
Carnivore
Min. tank
200 L
Min. group
4
Adult size
15 cm
Lifespan
6 years
Temperament
Semi-agressif
Propagation

Care notes

Temperature 24-28°C, pH 7.5-8.5, GH 10-20, KH 8-15. A minimum 200-liter tank for a group. Sandy substrate, rocks, and hiding places. Carnivorous diet: African cichlid pellets, brine shrimp, krill. Avoid overly aggressive tankmates like Mbunas. Compatible with other Aulonocara, Synodontis, or peaceful Malawi fish. Weekly water changes of 20-30%. Breeding is possible in the aquarium; the female mouthbroods the eggs for 3 weeks.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References