Firefish Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp.)

Understand the Firefish identity

The Firefish Peacock Cichlid is sold under the scientific label Aulonocara sp. The abbreviation “sp.” matters: it identifies the fish to the genus Aulonocara, rather than assigning it to one named species. The exact species has not been identified, so the care advice here follows the genus Aulonocara and its care group.

The current scientific classification places Aulonocara in the cichlid family Cichlidae. In the aquarium hobby, members of this genus are known as peacock cichlids, aulonocaras or simply peacocks. “Firefish” is the distinguishing aquarium name attached to this offer; it should not be read as a separate wild species name.

Place it in the Lake Malawi family

The Aulonocara genus summary describes these fish as haplochromine cichlids endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. It also records strong sexual colour differences across the genus and maternal mouth brooding in every Aulonocara species. Those natural-history traits explain the peacock name and the importance of managing social pressure, but they do not identify the sex of an individual fish.

Choose the dispatch size from the live selector

One purchase quantity supplies one animal of the selected option. The live size selector is the place to choose between the configured 2–3 cm, 4–5 cm, 5–6 cm, 7–9 cm and XL grades. XL is a named dispatch grade rather than a centimetre band, so use the selector wording when comparing it with the measured options.

The size you select is the size supplied, not the adult size. A larger dispatch grade changes the size of the fish sent; it does not create a different species, prove maturity or predict sex. Plan the permanent aquarium before choosing a grade, then select the dispatch size that can be introduced safely to the fish already in that aquarium.

Keep sex separate from size and colour

Sex is guaranteed only when the selected option explicitly states male or female. This Firefish Peacock Cichlid listing has no sex-guaranteed option.

Do not build a male-to-female stocking plan around dispatch size, the colour shown in the gallery or the apparent sex of another fish. Differences between the sexes may emerge as Malawi cichlids develop, but none of the selectable grades acts as a sex label.

Read the gallery as a visual guide

The gallery images are representative, based on reference photographs of this kind of animal, so colours can look slightly different from the live animal.

The images illustrate the Firefish look and cichlid body form rather than the exact individual sent. Use the written identity, selector and care requirements for the buying decision. For transport arrangements and guarantee terms, read our current delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee policy.

Plan the aquarium around Malawi cichlid scale

OATA’s African Malawi cichlid guidance gives 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and hard water of 12–18°dH for the group. It recommends at least 200 litres for a reasonably sized community, with an oversized filter and strong aeration. Treat 200 litres as a starting point for a planned community, not as automatic approval for every number and combination of fish.

Adult-size planning also needs a conservative margin. OATA notes that most Malawi cichlids grow to around 10 cm, while some may grow up to 25 cm. Because this offer identifies the genus rather than one species, use the upper 25 cm group reference when checking swimming room, décor clearances and the capacity of the aquarium. It is a planning allowance, not a promise that this individual will reach 25 cm.

OATA also describes Malawi cichlids as aggressive and warns that small groups often fight. Its population strategy uses groups of at least 15 Malawi cichlids, with slight crowding to spread aggression. Aquarium volume, filter capacity, adult sizes and territorial behaviour must all be assessed together before using that strategy.

Mature the filter before introducing the fish

Start with a fully set-up biological filter and prove that it processes waste before the Firefish enters the aquarium. The RSPCA’s aquarium welfare guidance explains why: fish release toxic ammonia, beneficial filter bacteria convert it to toxic nitrite, and further bacteria convert nitrite to safer nitrate. A filter is therefore life-support equipment, not an optional way to polish the water.

Use our first tropical aquarium guide to organise the set-up and maturation work before choosing an introduction date. Maturation is demonstrated by stable test results, including zero ammonia and zero nitrite; it is not demonstrated by clear-looking water or by leaving an empty aquarium running for an arbitrary number of days.

Allow for a busy Malawi community

Fit filtration with more capacity than a lightly stocked community would need. Malawi aggression management may involve a comparatively crowded population, while feeding and digging add waste and suspended debris. OATA consequently recommends an oversized filter and aggressive aeration so that biological processing and dissolved oxygen remain dependable.

• Biological capacity: provide ample mature media for the expected total fish load.
• Mechanical capacity: capture loose waste without allowing the filter to clog unnoticed.
• Aeration: create strong gas exchange and avoid still areas with poor oxygenation.
• Access: position equipment so blockages can be checked without dismantling the aquarium.

Increase the load gradually

Additions increase waste and feeding immediately, while the beneficial bacterial population needs time to respond. Increase the aquarium population slowly and test after each change. If ammonia or nitrite rises above zero, stop adding fish, reduce feeding to the amount eaten promptly and restore water quality through the maintenance routine. This prevents new tank syndrome from turning an avoidable loading error into a health emergency.

Build a layout that tolerates digging and territory changes

Use coral sand or a similar substrate that helps buffer the hard, alkaline conditions required by Malawi cichlids. Expect the fish to dig and rearrange the surface. Keep the substrate practical to siphon, and make sure digging cannot leave heavy décor balanced on loose material.

Combine cover with usable swimming room

Build rockwork and caves to break sight lines, then retain open water where the fish can move without repeatedly entering another fish’s space. A territorial fish that can see every rival from one end of the aquarium to the other has fewer ways to disengage. Several visual breaks create alternative routes and resting areas, while the open sections prevent the hardscape from consuming the swimming room allowed for the adult-size plan.

Place rocks securely before relying on substrate to disguise their bases. Check each structure from several directions and leave access for siphoning. Malawi cichlids may move sand from one side of a rock to the other, so a layout that is stable only on the day it is built is not suitable.

Choose plants for resistance, not softness

Digging often uproots plants. If you want greenery, use hardy plants that grow attached to décor rather than depending on roots buried in frequently moved substrate. Keep them away from narrow routes and filter intakes. A plant should add cover without blocking circulation, trapping large amounts of waste or removing a useful escape route.

Recheck the layout whenever aggression changes. Rearranging décor can interrupt established territories, but it should be done deliberately: preserve stable structures, filter circulation and open routes while changing the territorial boundaries.

Hold the water within the working range

Measure temperature, pH, hardness, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate rather than judging the water by appearance. Our water chemistry guide explains what each test measures, while the water matcher helps compare your readings with the 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18°dH targets used here.

Test on a fixed weekly schedule

Test at least once every week and record the results. The record shows whether a value is stable, drifting or changing after feeding and stocking adjustments. Maintain ammonia and nitrite at zero mg per litre. Keep nitrate from rising more than 20 mg per litre above the normal level in your tap water.

A single in-range reading is useful, but a sequence is more informative. For example, nitrate readings of 8, 14 and 20 mg per litre above the tap baseline show a rising waste trend even though the last result has not exceeded the stated ceiling. Respond by checking feeding, filter flow, trapped debris and the effectiveness of water changes before the next reading crosses the limit.

Change 25% at least once every week

At least once every week, replace 25% of the aquarium water. Use a siphon to remove solid waste from the substrate and treat replacement tap water with conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine. Keep the replacement conditions close enough to the aquarium values to avoid a sudden change in temperature or chemistry.

• Test before maintenance so the result reflects the aquarium’s condition.
• Siphon areas where food and waste collect around rocks.
• Treat replacement water before it enters the aquarium.
• Confirm temperature and key readings after the change.
• Record anything unusual, including reduced flow or unexpected pH movement.

Protect the filter bacteria

Check the filter for blockages during maintenance. If media needs cleaning, rinse it lightly in aquarium water removed during the water change. Do not wash mature media under the tap, because chlorine or chloramine may kill the bacterial population responsible for processing ammonia and nitrite.

Feed small meals twice daily

Use a complete food formulated for Malawi cichlids as the regular diet, then judge portion size by what the fish actually finishes. Feed twice a day and offer only the amount eaten within a few minutes. Remove obvious leftovers rather than allowing them to decay among the rocks or substrate.

Dietary requirements differ across Malawi cichlids. OATA distinguishes smaller, more herbivorous mbuna—which may use algae-rich Malawi foods and fresh vegetables—from larger, more predatory utaka, which may need pellets with more animal content and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, prawns or cockles. Do not assign the Firefish to either feeding pattern from colour, dispatch size or an image. Begin with an appropriate complete Malawi formulation and watch appetite, body condition, waste and water quality.

Use response to refine the portion

Two measured meals are safer than repeatedly adding a little more whenever the fish approaches the glass. Cichlids can respond actively to the keeper without needing another meal. Use the few-minute limit for each feeding and keep the total routine consistent enough to reveal a genuine change in appetite.

Overfeeding adds organic waste, raises the demand on the biological filter and can push ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the wrong direction. Feeding discipline therefore protects water quality as well as body condition. Increase a portion only after observing that the current amount is eaten promptly and the weekly test trend remains stable.

Introduce fish without overloading the system

Before introducing the Firefish, confirm that the aquarium is mature, the filter is running normally, and ammonia and nitrite are both zero mg per litre. Check temperature, pH and hardness against the working range as well. A clear aquarium is not enough if the test results show toxic waste or unsuitable chemistry.

Make a population decision before opening the bag

Compare the newcomer’s dispatch size with every resident fish, the planned adult-size allowance and the routes through the rockwork. Decide whether the aquarium has sufficient filtration, aeration and territory structure for another cichlid. If the answer depends on removing a resident only after fighting starts, revise the plan before introduction.

OATA advises adding Malawi cichlids in groups so one newcomer does not receive all the attention. It also recommends introducing more peaceful species before more aggressive ones. These principles must be balanced with the instruction to increase the biological load slowly. A group introduction should never exceed what the mature filter and aquarium volume can process safely.

Use the first week as an active checkpoint

• Immediately: confirm normal swimming and breathing once the fish has settled.
• At each feed: check that it reaches food and that rivals do not exclude it.
• Daily: inspect fins, scales, colour and hiding behaviour for changes.
• After the load increases: test ammonia and nitrite rather than waiting for the weekly routine.
• If chasing concentrates on one fish: reassess territories, sight lines and the whole stocking plan.

Do not continue adding fish merely to reach a target number while the existing group is unstable. First restore zero ammonia and nitrite, dependable feeding and a manageable aggression pattern. Population numbers are an aggression-management tool only when volume, filtration and adult sizes support them.

Review again after the first month

Compare the month’s test record, feeding response and social behaviour with the starting point. Stable chemistry and intact fish indicate that the system is coping. Rising nitrate, repeated fin damage or persistent exclusion means the plan needs adjustment before any further addition.

Respond early to health and behaviour changes

Learn the fish’s normal swimming, colour, breathing, temperament and feeding pattern. Daily familiarity makes a change easier to detect than an occasional close inspection. Use the same viewing points and feeding routine so you can compare like with like.

Watch for a change, not one isolated pose

Also watch for unusual hiding, a change in aggression, bumps, ulcers, loss of body condition or a marked increase in weight. Several small changes occurring together deserve the same attention as one dramatic sign.

Test before choosing a response

Start with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, temperature, filter flow and aeration. Correcting a husbandry problem is different from selecting a disease treatment, and random medication may distract from toxic water or sustained aggression. Record the readings and the time the change began.

If the fish remains distressed, develops visible lesions or stops feeding, contact us with the water results and a clear description of the change. That gives the health conversation a factual starting point while you protect water quality and reduce avoidable stress.

Plan the whole Malawi population before mixing fish

Malawi cichlids are colourful but aggressive, so compatibility is a managed outcome rather than a permanent label attached to a species name. OATA limits their companions to other Malawi cichlids or some species of Synodontis catfish that also naturally inhabit Lake Malawi. Avoid building a general tropical community around the Firefish.

Even within that boundary, a shared lake name does not guarantee a workable mix. Compare adult-size allowances, aggression, water requirements, feeding access, territorial use and introduction order. The Firefish identity stops at Aulonocara, while “some Synodontis” is also a limited category rather than approval for every catfish carrying that genus name.

Use group size as one part of the decision

OATA advises groups of at least 15 Malawi cichlids and slight crowding to spread aggression because small groups often fight. It also recommends keeping more females than males of each species where possible. This offer does not provide a sex-guaranteed option, so it cannot by itself build a planned sex ratio.

Do not translate “at least 15” into an instruction to place 15 Firefish in any 200-litre aquarium. It describes a Malawi community strategy. The adult sizes, number of species, behaviour, filtration, oxygenation and usable swimming area still determine whether a particular population is responsible.

Screen every proposed companion

• Confirm it is a Malawi cichlid or a suitable Lake Malawi Synodontis.
• Compare its adult size with the conservative space plan.
• Check that it uses the same 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 hard-water conditions.
• Consider whether its aggression will concentrate pressure on one fish.
• Plan the order and number of introductions before purchase.
• Keep a workable response ready if sustained aggression develops.

Browse the African cichlid collection to identify candidates, then assess each one rather than treating the collection as a compatibility list.

Use a compatibility screen instead of a universal tank-mate list

Start with water chemistry because it gives the clearest first filter. A proposed companion that does not suit 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18°dH should not be made to tolerate those conditions merely because its temperament appears similar. Passing the water screen only allows the next checks; it does not settle the decision.

Distinguish chasing from sustained pressure

Some territorial interaction can occur while cichlids settle, but repeated pursuit, blocked feeding, damaged fins, continuous hiding or one fish being pinned to a corner indicates that pressure is not being distributed safely. Respond by checking sight lines, territories, total numbers and the aggression of every resident. Rearranging décor may reset territorial boundaries, but it does not turn an unsuitable mix into a suitable one.

Check stocking order

Introduce more peaceful species before more aggressive species and avoid leaving one newcomer to receive all established attention. At the same time, never add a group larger than the mature filter can support. If the social and biological instructions point in different directions, pause the addition and redesign the plan rather than compromising water quality.

For a stocking and compatibility assessment, ask us with the aquarium dimensions, volume, current livestock, measured water values, filtration and the exact proposed companion. Honest uncertainty remains until those details are considered together; a common name alone cannot settle the outcome.

Check the answers to common Firefish questions

What exactly is a Firefish Peacock Cichlid?

It is an Aulonocara peacock cichlid identified to genus as Aulonocara sp.; “Firefish” is its aquarium offer name rather than a named wild species.

How many Firefish Peacock Cichlids does one purchase supply?

One purchase quantity supplies one animal of the selected option. The apparent number of fish in a gallery scene does not change the sold unit.

Which dispatch sizes can I select for the Firefish Peacock Cichlid?

The live selector uses 2–3 cm, 4–5 cm, 5–6 cm, 7–9 cm and XL dispatch grades. These are dispatch sizes rather than adult-size predictions.

What aquarium setup does this fish need?

OATA’s Malawi-cichlid guidance recommends a mature, filtered aquarium of at least 200 litres for a reasonably sized community, with strong aeration, buffered substrate, secure rockwork, caves, broken sight lines and open swimming room.

Can a Firefish Peacock Cichlid be kept alone or in a small group?

Malawi cichlids kept in small groups often fight. OATA’s community strategy uses at least 15 Malawi cichlids, but volume, filtration, adult sizes and aggression must support the total population.

What water conditions does a Firefish Peacock Cichlid need?

OATA’s Malawi-cichlid guidance gives 23–27°C, pH 8.0–8.6 and 12–18°dH for the group, with zero mg per litre ammonia and nitrite and nitrate no more than 20 mg per litre above the tap-water level.

What should I feed it?

Use an appropriate complete Malawi cichlid food and feed only what it eats within a few minutes, twice daily. Remove leftovers and adjust portions if waste readings rise.

How should I acclimatise this fish to the aquarium?

Introduce it only after confirming a mature filter, zero ammonia and nitrite, suitable temperature, pH and hardness, and a stocking plan that will not overload the filter or isolate one newcomer.

Which companions can live with it?

Consider only carefully screened Malawi cichlids or suitable Synodontis species that naturally inhabit Lake Malawi. Match water, adult size, aggression, territory and introduction order before mixing.

Review the care and identity references

• World Register of Marine Species — accepted genus, family and order.
• Aulonocara genus summary — Lake Malawi natural history, hobby names and reproductive biology.
• OATA African Malawi cichlid guidance — water, aquarium, feeding, maintenance, introduction and compatibility.
• RSPCA aquarium welfare guidance — biological filtration and the aquarium nitrogen cycle.