Greenface Peacock care guide
Greenface Peacock (Aulonocara saulosi) — minimum tank 300 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
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.