Greenface Peacock care guide
Greenface Peacock (Aulonocara saulosi) — minimum tank 300 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Aulonocara saulosi is a Malawi peacock cichlid known for its strong purple-blue colouration and slightly more pointed snout than congeners. Adult males display a glowing blue body with white dorsal-fin edge. Adults reach about 12 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Aulonocara
- Scientific name: Aulonocara saulosi
- Common synonyms: Saulos' Peacock, Greenface
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 saulosi Breeding Guide
Overview
Aulonocara saulosi, the Greenface Peacock, is endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring on the eastern shore south of the Mozambique border near Masinje, typically at around 12 m depth. It reaches about 9.2 cm standard length, feeds on sand-dwelling invertebrates and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2018). Like all Aulonocara it is a maternal mouthbrooder.
Sexing
Aulonocara are strongly sexually dichromic. Males are far more colourful with elongated dorsal and anal fins, while females remain a drab silver or brown. The contrast makes the sexes easy to tell apart in mature fish.
Conditioning
Reflecting its diet of sand-dwelling invertebrates, condition breeding stock over a sandy bottom with a varied micropredator diet of fine prepared and small live or frozen foods.
Breeding Setup
Use the standard Aulonocara harem of one male with several females over sand with rocky shelter. Keeping multiple females spreads the male's attention and reduces harassment.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
As a maternal mouthbrooder, the female spawns and takes the eggs into her mouth; fertilisation follows the genus egg-spot pattern, with the male displaying anal-fin spots that the female attempts to collect, prompting release of milt. Detailed species-specific spawning accounts are limited, so behaviour is described at genus level.
Egg & Fry Care
The female incubates the brood orally for roughly three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry, in line with the genus. Because Aulonocara species hybridise readily, keep other peacocks out of the breeding tank.