Aulonocara

Aulonocara — the peacock cichlids — are a group of Lake Malawi cichlids famous for the intense, shifting blues, reds and yellows of the males. They sift sand for food using sensitive sensors in the head, so they are calmer than most mbuna and work well in a peaceful Malawi community over a sandy base and rockwork.

Hard, alkaline water — around pH 7.8–8.5 — that mirrors Lake Malawi. Much of the UK has naturally hard tap water that suits them well; soft-water areas may need mineral buffering. Stable warm water of 24–27°C, strong filtration and frequent water changes keep peacocks in full colour and health.

It is risky. Peacocks are relatively gentle sand-sifters, while mbuna are aggressive algae-grazers that often bully them off food and can dull their colour through stress. A tank of peacocks and similarly calm haplochromines usually works better than mixing them with boisterous mbuna in the same aquarium.

Only dominant males develop full peacock colour; females and subordinate males stay a plain silvery-brown. Young males also colour up slowly, over many months. Stress from aggressive tank mates, hard competition or unstable water can suppress colour too — a settled male in hard, stable water with a few females will reach his brightest.