Dragon Blood Peacock Care Guide
The Dragon Blood Peacock is a captive line-bred Aulonocara colour strain derived from peacock cichlids of Lake Malawi.
Overview
The Dragon Blood Peacock is a captive line-bred colour strain within the genus Aulonocara, the peacock cichlids. It is not a naturally occurring species but a fixed aquarium strain selected for intense red to pink coloration, with orange-blotch (OB) patterning common in females. Care follows the requirements of the wild Aulonocara from which it derives.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Tribe: Haplochromini
- Genus: Aulonocara
- Trade designation: Aulonocara sp. "Dragon Blood"
- Note: captive line-bred strain, not a described wild species
Habitat
The parent genus Aulonocara is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where peacock cichlids inhabit warm, hard, alkaline rift-lake water. Wild peacocks such as Aulonocara stuartgranti live over sandy zones, and FishBase records that they feed on sand-dwelling invertebrates detected over open sand.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Lifespan: 6-9 years
- Substrate: sand, with rockwork and open swimming space
Diet
Peacock cichlids are carnivores that in the wild forage for small invertebrates living in the sand. In aquaria the strain should receive a protein-based diet of quality pellets and frozen foods; rich diets high in mammalian fats are best avoided, in line with general Aulonocara care.
Compatibility
Wikipedia notes that Aulonocara are less aggressive than Mbuna and are best kept with other medium-sized, non-aggressive Lake Malawi cichlids. Suitable companions include other peacocks, Copadichromis, Placidochromis and Synodontis petricola. More boisterous Mbuna, Tropheus and Petrochromis are best avoided, as are unrelated soft-water fish such as discus and rams.
Breeding
Like all members of the genus, peacocks are maternal mouthbrooders: the female incubates the fertilised eggs and later the fry in her mouth. The genus is strongly sexually dichromic, with brightly coloured males and plainer females.