Butterfly Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) Care Guide
Cichla ocellaris is the type species of the peacock bass genus, a large piscivorous cichlid native to the Guianas and the Branco River in Brazil.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Cichla ocellaris is the type species of the genus Cichla, described by Bloch and Schneider in 1801. It is a large predatory cichlid from northern South America, recognised by the black ocellated spot ringed with a yellow halo on the caudal fin. FishBase records a maximum total length of 74 cm, placing it among the largest aquarium cichlids and well beyond the capacity of standard tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Cichla
- Scientific name: Cichla ocellaris
- Describer: Bloch & Schneider, 1801
- Type species of the genus Cichla
Habitat
The species is native to the Marowijne and Essequibo drainages of the Guianas and to the Branco River in Brazil. It occupies warm, slow-moving waters such as lakes, ponds, canals and rock pits, often near shaded structure. FishBase classifies it as a freshwater and brackish, benthopelagic, non-migratory fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 1500 L
- Temperature: 25-30 °C (77-86 °F)
- pH: 5.5-7.5
- GH: 3-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
Diet
Cichla ocellaris is a daytime hunting piscivore with a high trophic level (about 4.5 on FishBase). In the wild it preys on smaller fish, using speed and a large mouth to capture prey. In captivity it accepts meaty foods and prepared pellets formulated for large predators.
Compatibility
This is an aggressive, territorial predator that swims at mid-water level. Small fish are treated as food, so tank mates must be large and robust. Because of its eventual size and aggression it is best kept alone or with similarly large, fast species in very spacious aquaria.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner with biparental care. Adults clear and harden a flat surface in shallow water for egg deposition and guard the eggs and fry. FishBase reports spawning roughly every two months with peaks in the rainy season and fecundity around 9,000-15,000 eggs per kilogram of female.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2020). The species also supports minor commercial fisheries, aquaculture and recreational fishing across its range.
Cichla ocellaris Breeding Guide
Overview
Cichla ocellaris, the butterfly peacock bass and type species of the genus, is native to the Marowijne and Essequibo drainages in the Guianas and the Branco River in Brazil. It has been widely introduced, including to Florida (1984), Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Maximum length is about 74 cm, with an average of 30-36 cm. It is a substrate-spawning, biparental cichlid.
Sexing
Across Cichla, many adults, primarily males but also some females, develop a pronounced forehead (nuchal) hump shortly before and during the spawning season.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Spawning occurs between April and September, peaking in May and June. Adults create large flat, hardened surfaces near the shore to serve as a spawning site, onto which the eggs are deposited.
Egg & Fry Care
Both adults are responsible for protecting the young from predators, demonstrating the biparental guarding typical of peacock bass.
Common Challenges
The large adult size and predatory nature make pair formation and brood rearing in home aquaria unrealistic; controlled spawning is achieved in pond and aquaculture settings.