What tank size does it need?

Plan around 200 litres or a 100 cm+ aquarium for adult care, with hard alkaline water and room for territories.

No. It is a peacock cichlid, usually calmer than many mbuna, but it still needs compatible Malawi cichlid tank mates.

What should I feed it?

Offer quality cichlid pellets and frozen foods, reflecting its natural small invertebrate feeding.

Livestock is sent by licensed live-animal courier and covered by the Tropical Fish Co Live Arrival Guarantee when the policy conditions are followed.

Fort Maguire Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara hansbaenschi) - hero view — representative image

A Fort Maguire peacock cichlid for hard, alkaline Lake Malawi aquariums, with calmer peacock behaviour than many mbuna but real cichlid space needs.

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Aulonocara hansbaenschi

Max Adult Size

up to 14 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Care Level

Easy

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.5–8.5

Hardness

10–20 dGH

Minimum Tank

200L

Diet

Omnivore; cichlid pellets, frozen foods

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 hansbaenschi

Fort Maguire Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara hansbaenschi)

Name: Fort Maguire Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara hansbaenschi)
Brand: Tropical Fish Co
SKU: 1160
Availability: InStock

Beginner Friendly

Semi-Aggressive

£17.99

Size: 4 - 5 cm

Multi-Buy Pricing

— save up to 20%

Save when buying multiple fish. Each quantity is one fish; sex and pair formation are not guaranteed unless the selected variant explicitly states them.

How many?

Selected fish

£17.99

Live arrival guaranteed. Full refund or replacement if they don’t arrive healthy. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.

£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.

Read our reviews on Google or see verified buyer reviews and photos. Human support, careful packing and clear delivery updates for live aquatics.

A Fort Maguire peacock cichlid for hard, alkaline Lake Malawi aquariums, with calmer peacock behaviour than many mbuna but real cichlid space needs.

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name

Aulonocara hansbaenschi

Max Adult Size

up to 14 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Care Level

Easy

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Temperature

24–28°C

pH Range

7.5–8.5

Hardness

10–20 dGH

Minimum Tank

200L

Diet

Omnivore; cichlid pellets, frozen foods

Source-labelled Bolivian ram swimming above aquarium gravel

Full Care Guide

Cichlids: Types, Care & Tank Planning

Cichlids are a family of roughly 1,800 accepted species, not one care type. Before buying, identify the exact species and source, then compare adult measurement, usable tank dimensions, social system, territory, tested water, diet and an exit plan. No family-wide minimum tank, water range or tank-mate list is safe.

14 min readRead guide

Water Parameters

Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors

Temperature

24–28°C

24°CIdeal28°C

pH Level

7.5–8.5

7.5Ideal8.5

Water Hardness

10–20 dGH

10 dGHIdeal20 dGH

Fort Maguire Peacock overview

Fort Maguire Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara hansbaenschi) is a Lake Malawi peacock cichlid sold in the aquarium trade under the Fort Maguire name. Some taxonomy sources treat it within the wider Aulonocara stuartgranti complex, but the product is best presented with the accepted trade name and a clear note rather than hidden synonym drift.

Quick facts

Adult size	FishBase lists 8.4 cm standard length; hobby adults are often planned around 12-14 cm total length
Minimum aquarium	200 litres or a 100 cm+ aquarium for a planned group
Water	24-28°C, pH 7.5-8.5, hard alkaline water
Diet	Small invertebrate-based and quality cichlid foods
Temperament	Semi-aggressive; best with compatible Malawi cichlids

Care notes

Use sand, caves, rockwork and open swimming space. Keep one male with several females where possible, or plan a compatible Malawi display with care around colour, sex ratio and territory.

Ordering from Tropical Fish Co

Livestock is packed for delivery by a licensed live-animal courier and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee when the policy conditions are followed.

Species facts

Published records for Aulonocara hansbaenschi — useful when planning the aquarium around the adult fish rather than the size supplied. The wild range below is what FishBase lists; the care range on this listing (24–28 °C) is what we keep the fish at.