Eureka Red Peacock Care Guide
The Eureka Red is a selectively bred colour form of Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, a cave-dwelling fairy cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
The Eureka Red peacock is a selectively bred colour form of Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, a cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi described by Johnson in 1974. Also known as the fairy cichlid or Freiberg's peacock, the species has several colour morphs including red and yellow varieties. Males are vividly coloured while females are drab brown.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Aulonocara
- Scientific name: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
Habitat
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi is endemic to Lake Malawi and has been observed at Nkudzi, Monkey Bay, Nankumba, the Domwe Islands and Otter Point. According to FishBase, northern populations inhabit pure rocky areas with large boulders, while in southern populations males occupy small caves in intermediate habitats.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (record); FishBase reports 24-26 °C
- pH: 7.5-8.5 (FishBase: 7.5-8.0)
- GH: 8-20 °dGH (FishBase: 9-19 dH)
- Maximum size: about 15 cm (FishBase)
- Lifespan: 7-10 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore with a FishBase trophic level of about 3.6. In aquariums it accepts prepared foods; a sand substrate suits the sediment-foraging habits typical of peacocks.
Compatibility
A. jacobfreibergi is one of the more assertive peacocks and is best kept with other peacocks and haplochromines. Aggressive mbuna and very small fish or shrimp are best avoided. The record lists Synodontis catfish as suitable companions.
Breeding
It is a maternal mouthbrooder. FishBase notes a fecundity of up to about 50 eggs per spawning event, which the female incubates in her mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018).
Eureka Red Peacock Breeding Guide
Overview
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi, the fairy cichlid, is a peacock endemic to Lake Malawi, recorded at sites such as Nkudzi, Monkey Bay, Nankumba, Domwe Islands and Otter Point. The Eureka Red is a selectively bred colour form. Like all Aulonocara it is a maternal mouthbrooder and strongly sexually dichromatic.
Sexing
Sexing is by colour. Males develop a vivid red-orange body with a metallic blue face, while females remain drab brown. The species occurs in several colour morphs including red or yellow. Full male colour appears only as males mature and establish dominance.
Conditioning
An omnivore, A. jacobfreibergi grows to around 15 cm and is one of the more assertive peacocks. Condition broodstock on varied, balanced foods in clean, stable hard water within Lake Malawi parameters.
Breeding Setup
In the wild this species associates with caves and rocky overhangs, so the tank should offer caves and crevices alongside open sand. Lake Malawi cichlids thrive at pH 7.5-8.4 and 25-29 °C (77-84 °F). A male-to-several-females harem reduces aggression and supports spawning.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
The male courts a female near his cave; she lays a small batch of eggs, takes them into her mouth, and fertilisation follows in the haplochromine manner. A settled dominant male and stable warm, hard water trigger spawning.
Egg & Fry Care
The female incubates the brood in her mouth and does not feed meanwhile. Released free-swimming fry take finely powdered foods and newly hatched brine shrimp; rearing them apart from larger tankmates limits predation.