Blue-Lipped Peacock care guide
Blue-Lipped Peacock (Aulonocara korneliae) — minimum tank 300 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aulonocara korneliae is a Malawi peacock cichlid found around Likoma Island. Adult males display a soft blue head and pectoral region with golden-brown flanks marked by dark vertical bars. Adults reach about 12 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Aulonocara
- Scientific name: Aulonocara korneliae
- Common synonyms: Cornelia's Peacock
Habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi, where it inhabits the sand-and-rock transition zone of the mid-littoral. The lake is hard and alkaline — pH 7.8-8.6, KH 6-15 — with stable warm temperatures. Males hold territories around isolated rocks at the sand interface, while females and juveniles roam the open sand.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 300 L (79.3 US gal)
- Adult size: 10-12 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 6-9 years
Diet
A sand-sifting invertebrate predator that locates small crustaceans and insect larvae buried in the substrate using highly sensitive sensory pores on the snout. In aquaria a cichlid pellet of moderate protein, supplemented with frozen mysis, Artemia and bloodworm in moderation, gives strong colour and condition; avoid the high-vegetable diet used for true mbuna.
Compatibility
Less aggressive than most mbuna and well suited to a "Malawi Hap and Peacock" tank with sand substrate, large open swimming areas and scattered rockwork. Keep one male to several females; do not mix with rock-dwelling mbuna that will dominate the bolder males. Different colour-form peacocks hybridise readily and should be kept apart.
Breeding
A polygamous maternal mouthbrooder. The male digs a shallow nest beside a rock and displays to attract females; each female collects fertilised eggs into her mouth and incubates them for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry that hide among the rocks.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: see species page. Most Aulonocara are widely distributed in Lake Malawi and assessed as Least Concern, though several deep-water and locality-restricted forms are more vulnerable to collection pressure.
Aulonocara korneliae Breeding Guide
Overview
Aulonocara korneliae, the Blue-Lipped Peacock, is endemic to Lake Malawi and recorded from Chizumulu Island, reaching about 7.8 cm standard length. It is regularly found over pure rocky habitat but forages over sand, feeding on sand-dwelling invertebrates. As an Aulonocara it is a maternal mouthbrooder.
Sexing
Aulonocara are strongly sexually dichromic. Males are colourful with elongated dorsal and anal fins and develop bright colour even as juveniles, while females remain a drab silver to brown or grey throughout. This makes sexing relatively straightforward by colour.
Conditioning
Because the species forages over sand for invertebrates, a sandy bottom and a varied micropredator diet of fine prepared and small live or frozen foods keep breeding fish in condition.
Breeding Setup
Follow the standard Aulonocara harem approach of a single male with several females over a sandy substrate with rocky shelter. Spreading the male's attention across multiple females reduces harassment of any individual.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As a maternal mouthbrooder, the female lays eggs and takes them into her mouth; fertilisation follows the typical Aulonocara egg-spot mechanism, where the male's anal-fin spots prompt the female to attempt collection and the male releases milt. Detailed spawning observations specific to this species are limited, so behaviour is given at genus level.
Egg & Fry Care
The female orally incubates the brood before releasing free-swimming fry, following the genus pattern of roughly three weeks of mouthbrooding. Because Aulonocara species hybridise readily, do not mix other peacocks in the breeding tank.