Peacock Cichlid Breeding Guide (Aulonocara)

Breeding Aulonocara peacock cichlids: maternal mouthbrooders from Lake Malawi where the female carries eggs and fry in her mouth for about four weeks.

Overview

Peacock cichlids of the genus Aulonocara are colourful haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi. They are maternal mouthbrooders. The record species Aulonocara nyassae is poorly documented in the wild and is known mainly from the holotype, so the breeding behaviour described here follows the well-studied genus Aulonocara as bred in aquaria.

Sexing

Adult males are larger and far more colourful than females, which are comparatively drab and silver-grey. Reliable sexing of fry is generally possible from around four months of age.

Conditioning

Females in the 7.5 to 10 cm range and around two to four years old are considered the best producers when not bred repeatedly. Lake Malawi water is hard and alkaline; reported breeding ranges are a pH of about 7.5 to 9.0 and a temperature of about 25 to 29 degrees Celsius.

Breeding Setup

Provide rockwork over sand. The male establishes and defends a breeding site, often a shallow depression he constructs in the substrate. Keeping several females per male helps spread male attention.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The male flutters or dances alongside a willing female until she lays a batch of eggs and immediately takes them into her mouth. Fertilisation occurs as the female attempts to mouth the egg-spots on the male's anal fin and receives milt, and the process repeats until all eggs are laid.

Egg & Fry Care

The female carries the brood in her mouth for up to about four weeks (around 28 days), and warmer temperatures may speed development. A brooding female shows a distended jaw and typically refuses food. Brood size ranges from just a few to a couple of dozen fry. Released fry may retain a yolk sac and, once foraging, accept Artemia nauplii or similar.

Common Challenges

Hybridisation between similar-looking Aulonocara forms is a major concern, so breed identified, single-variety stock to keep lines pure. Stressed females may swallow or spit out a brood prematurely; a quiet, low-traffic tank improves holding success.