Cobue Peacock care guide
Cobue Peacock (Aulonocara stuartgranti "Cobue") — minimum tank 350 L, temperature 24-27 °C, pH 7.8-8.6.
Overview
Aulonocara stuartgranti "Cobue" is a peacock cichlid colour form from the Cobue area of the Mozambican shore of Lake Malawi. Adult males show a metallic blue body and head with subtle golden flashing on the flanks. Adults reach about 15 cm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Aulonocara
- Scientific name: Aulonocara stuartgranti "Cobue"
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: 350 L (92.5 US gal)
- Adult size: 12-15 cm
- Temperature: 24-27 °C (75-81 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.6
- GH: 10-20 °dGH
- Water flow: medium
- Lifespan: 7-10 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.