Maulana Peacock

Aulonocara stuartgranti 'Maulana'

Family : Cichlidae

FishFreshwaterPeacocks

The Maulana Peacock is a stunning cichlid from Lake Malawi, known for its vibrant blue and yellow coloration. It is a popular choice for aquarists due to its relatively peaceful nature.

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

Males display a brilliant blue body with a yellow-orange dorsal and anal fin, while females are dull brown. This species is a maternal mouthbrooder. It prefers rocky habitats where it feeds on small invertebrates. Males are territorial but less aggressive than mbunas. Coloration intensifies during courtship. In aquariums, they can reach up to 15 cm.

Habitat

Region :

Clear, rocky waters of Lake Malawi

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature2428 °C
pH7.58.5
GH1020 °dGH
KH812 °dKH
NO₃
≤ 20 mg/L
PO₄
≤ 0.5 mg/L

Care

Difficulty
2/5
Diet
Carnivore
Min. tank
200 L
Min. group
4
Adult size
13 cm
Lifespan
6 years
Temperament
Peaceful
Propagation

Care notes

Maintain temperature 24-28°C, pH 7.5-8.5, GH 10-20, KH 8-12. A minimum tank size of 200 liters is recommended for a group. They are carnivorous: feed high-quality cichlid pellets and frozen foods like brine shrimp. Avoid aggressive mbunas; they do well with other peacocks and haps. Keep females in a harem with one male. Weekly 20% water changes are essential. Breeding is possible in captivity; the female holds eggs in her mouth for about 3 weeks.

Similar species

Espèces proches, même habitat ou même maintenance

References