Moderate
Steveni Blue Neon Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara stuartgranti)
24–26°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 300L
£12.99
A vibrant Aulonocara hybrid from Lake Malawi with striking neon red and orange calico patterning. Semi-aggressive, ideal for Peacock and Hap community tanks. Available with live arrival guarantee.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Aulonocara sp. 'Calico'
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A vibrant Aulonocara hybrid from Lake Malawi with striking neon red and orange calico patterning. Semi-aggressive, ideal for Peacock and Hap community tanks. Available with live arrival guarantee.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
24–26°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 300L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
23–27°C · pH 7.5–8.6 · 200L
24–28°C · pH 7.5–8.5 · 200L
Cichlids are one of the most diverse fish families in the hobby. From tiny apistogrammas to massive oscars, this guide covers the basics of keeping them well.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
The Strawberry Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp.) is a dazzling line-bred peacock from Lake Malawi, cloaked in intense strawberry-red and pink. One of the most colourful of all Rift-lake cichlids, it combines that show-stopping colour with the peaceful-for-a-peacock temperament of the Aulonocara group, making it a favourite centrepiece for the hard-water Malawi aquarium.
Males reach around 15cm and blaze in saturated red, pink and orange, often with flecks of blue in the face and fins. Females and juveniles are a plain silvery-grey — the vivid colour is a male trait that intensifies with maturity, good water and a confident, dominant fish holding territory.
Provide at least 200 litres with an open sandy floor and rockwork caves at the back, and hard, alkaline Malawi water (pH 7.5–8.5) at 24–28°C. Strong filtration and regular water changes keep the pristine, mineral-rich conditions that bring out peak colour in a dominant male.
Semi-aggressive and best kept as one male with several females, the Strawberry Peacock is milder than most mbuna and should not be mixed with them, as it is easily bullied. House it with other peaceful Aulonocara and calm haps, giving each male his own patch of rock and sand.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Other peaceful Aulonocara peacocks | Aggressive mbuna |
| Calm Malawi haps | Rival peacock males in small tanks |
| Synodontis catfish | Soft-water community fish |
| One male per group with several females | Timid tankmates |
A micro-predator that sifts sand for invertebrates, it does best on quality cichlid pellets, spirulina foods, frozen brine shrimp, mysis and krill. Avoid fatty or mammal-based foods, which peacocks handle poorly, and feed modest, varied portions to keep colour and condition high.
Keep it away from mbuna and give it hard, clean, alkaline water — a Strawberry Peacock only reaches its full strawberry-red intensity when it is dominant, unstressed and in pristine Malawi conditions.
Every Strawberry Peacock Cichlid is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
