Rubescens Peacock Care Guide

The Rubescens Peacock is a captive red line-bred Aulonocara strain derived from Lake Malawi peacock cichlids.

Overview

The Rubescens Peacock is a captive line-bred red colour strain within the genus Aulonocara, the peacock cichlids. It is a fixed aquarium strain rather than a naturally occurring species, selected for a reddish to orange body. Its care matches that of the wild Lake Malawi peacocks from which the genus descends.

Taxonomy

Family: Cichlidae
Tribe: Haplochromini
Genus: Aulonocara
Trade designation: Aulonocara sp. "Rubescens"
Note: captive line-bred strain, not a described wild species

Habitat

The genus Aulonocara is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, a warm, hard, alkaline rift lake. Wild peacocks such as Aulonocara stuartgranti are associated with sandy zones; FishBase records that A. stuartgranti feeds on sand-dwelling invertebrates and that some individuals form large schools over sand while others remain shy in caves.

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 forage for small sand-dwelling invertebrates in the wild. In aquaria the strain should be offered a protein-based diet of quality pellets and frozen foods, avoiding feeds high in mammalian fats, in line with general Aulonocara husbandry.

Compatibility

According to Wikipedia, Aulonocara are less aggressive than Mbuna and do best with other medium-sized, non-aggressive Lake Malawi cichlids. Compatible tankmates include other peacocks, Copadichromis, Placidochromis and Synodontis petricola. Boisterous Mbuna, Tropheus and Petrochromis are best avoided, as are soft-water fish such as discus and rams.

Breeding

As in all Aulonocara, reproduction is by maternal mouthbrooding: the female holds the fertilised eggs and developing fry in her mouth. The genus shows strong sexual dichromatism, with vivid males and subdued females.