Red Flash Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara stuartgranti)

The Red Flash Peacock Cichlid is supplied as Aulonocara stuartgranti "Red Flash", a colourful non-mbuna cichlid for a deliberately planned Lake Malawi aquarium. It is a sand-oriented peacock rather than a rock-grazing mbuna, and it needs stable mineral-rich water, open floor space, calm feeding opportunities and enough room for social management. The supplier has not provided a collection locality, so this listing does not claim that the stock is the named Maulana or Chitimba Bay population.

Each cart quantity adds one unsexed fish in the selected approximate size grade. Two fish are not a guaranteed male/female pair, four fish are not a guaranteed harem, and a larger grade does not guarantee a coloured male. The live multi-buy prices are quantity discounts only. Choose the number of fish from the capacity of a mature aquarium and a realistic social plan, not from the discount threshold.

Plan for an adult length around 12 cm and, for a managed adult peacock group, an aquarium of at least 300 litres with a 120 cm footprint. Use 23-26°C, pH 8.0-8.5 and 12-18 dGH as practical targets, with ammonia and nitrite at zero. This is moderate care: the fish can be robust in the correct system, but it is not a beginner-proof addition to a general community tank. Read our cichlid care guide before ordering if Lake Malawi fish are new to you.

What Does One Order Include?

One quantity means one live fish. Select the available size band in the buy box and then choose the number required. The centimetre labels are supplier selection grades, so a fish may vary slightly within its band. They do not promise an exact measurement, age, sex, social rank, maturity or final colour. Fish grow and develop at different rates even when they enter the aquarium at a similar length.

Listing choice	What it means	What it does not guarantee
Cart quantity	One unsexed fish for each quantity selected	A pair, harem, bonded group or chosen sex ratio
Size grade	An approximate stock-selection band	Exact millimetres, age, maturity or adult colour
Red Flash name	The supplier's trade identity for this stock	A wild locality, formal strain registration or guaranteed pattern
Multi-buy tier	A lower per-fish price at an eligible quantity	Biological compatibility or sufficient aquarium capacity
Gallery image	A representative peacock-cichlid illustration	A photograph of current stock or the individual sent

Peacock cichlids are not schooling fish in the way tetras are. A social group can work when the sexes, space and other residents are suitable, but an even number bought together is not automatically balanced. Check the aquarium's real capacity with our tank-volume calculator, then allow for displaced water, filter equipment, every resident fish and a contingency tank or divider if one individual is persecuted.

Red Flash, Maulana and Bicolor: What the Name Does and Does Not Prove

The exact Petra record says Aulonocara stuartgranti Red Flash. It supplies four size grades but no description, image, care sheet, locality or strain history. That supplier name is sometimes merged with Maulana Bicolor, Bicolor 500 and Flavescent Peacock wording. Those labels occur around the aquarium trade, but they should not be treated as interchangeable proof of one population.

Specialist references associate "Maulana" or "Bicolor 500" with a shallow-water A. stuartgranti form from the Chitimba Bay area. "Red Flash" is also used for more than one red-and-blue peacock trade fish, and search results sometimes place it under A. stuartgranti while other sellers use A. hansbaenschi. A colourful marketing photograph cannot settle that conflict. Locality data, a dependable breeding history and diagnostic comparison would be needed before assigning this shipment to a named wild form.

We use Red Flash Peacock Cichlid because it matches the supplier record, and Aulonocara stuartgranti because that species name is also supplied and accepted by FishBase and Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. We do not claim Chitimba Bay, Flavescent Peacock, a wild-caught origin or a pure locality line.

Is This Peacock Cichlid Right for Your Aquarium?

This fish suits an aquarist with a mature hard-water aquarium, a long footprint, reliable filtration and the ability to respond to aggression. It does not suit an uncycled tank, a soft acidic community, a small ornamental aquarium or a setup where no fish can be separated. Moderate care means the routine is manageable once the system is correct; it does not mean the species can be added to any tropical tank.

Your situation	Fit	Reason
Mature 300L+ Malawi aquarium with a 120 cm footprint	Potentially suitable	Provides open sand, retreat areas and room for a managed peacock group
New aquarium still cycling	Not ready	Ammonia or nitrite exposure is unsafe
Soft acidic tetra, ram or discus community	Poor fit	Water chemistry and social behaviour conflict
Two unsexed juveniles wanted as a guaranteed pair	Poor plan	Sex is unknown and one fish may focus aggression on the other
Spacious all-male peacock display	Conditional	Needs careful colour, size and aggression management with backup space
Shrimp or small-fish aquarium	Avoid	Small livestock may be chased, injured or eaten

Use our water-parameter matcher for an initial check, but rely on liquid tests or calibrated meters for the real aquarium. Source-water chemistry, tank length, filtration, existing stock and the keeper's separation plan matter more than a broad "African cichlid" label.

Natural Habitat, Sand Feeding and Sensory Biology

Aulonocara stuartgranti is endemic to Lake Malawi. FishBase records the species from the lake's western coast between Ngara and Chizi Point and describes feeding on sand-dwelling invertebrates. The supplier has not given a locality for this stock, so that species distribution must not be narrowed to one bay on the basis of its trade name.

Peacock cichlids are famous for enlarged pores in the head and lower jaw. Peer-reviewed research shows that the widened lateral-line system helps Aulonocara detect small prey moving beneath the sand. A fish may hover just above the bottom, angle its head, then strike into the substrate. This is not random digging: it reflects a specialised sensory and feeding strategy.

That biology guides the aquarium design. Provide a broad clean sand area where the fish can investigate the bottom without scraping its mouth on sharp gravel. Add scattered stable rocks and visual barriers rather than filling the entire floor with a dense mbuna-style wall. Leave open swimming water above the substrate and keep detritus from accumulating in quiet pockets.

The species is a non-mbuna. It uses sand and rock-sand transition habitat differently from algae-grazing rock specialists, so diet and companions should be chosen accordingly. Calling every Lake Malawi cichlid "the same care" ignores the ecological differences that make the fish interesting and can cause feeding or aggression problems.

Tank Size and Footprint for Adult Peacocks

Plan around at least 300 litres and a 120 cm tank length for a managed adult group. A larger footprint is advisable for several males, a mixed-species display or a heavy decor layout that divides the floor. Volume helps dilute waste, but length and width create the escape routes and separate social zones that fish actually use.

The 300-litre recommendation is deliberately conservative. FishBase gives a maximum published length of 11.8 cm, and Fishipedia recommends at least 300 litres for a managed A. stuartgranti group. The exact trade stock is not proven to be one named locality, but the larger plan remains sensible for a social peacock group whose sex ratio is unknown at purchase.

A single juvenile can physically fit in less water for a time, but the product must be described for adult welfare rather than temporary holding. The aquarium also has to contain mature filtration, rocks, substrate and other fish. Do not subtract those demands mentally while using the empty-tank volume printed by the manufacturer.

Planning factor	Why it matters	Practical response
Tank length	Creates lateral swimming and escape distance	Use 120 cm or more for the adult group plan
Tank width	Allows separate sand patches and rock edges	Prefer a broad footprint over a tall narrow display
Decor displacement	Rock and substrate reduce real water volume	Calculate actual internal dimensions and displacement
Other residents	Every fish adds waste and social pressure	Stock by adult needs, not juvenile size
Backup capacity	Individual aggression cannot be predicted perfectly	Keep a divider, cycled spare tank or rehoming route available

Water Parameters and Stability

Use 23-26°C as a practical target range. FishBase records 22-26°C for the species, while UK OATA guidance gives 23-27°C for African Malawi cichlids generally. The overlap avoids presenting the warmest generic value as a species requirement. Match the water the fish is acclimated to and avoid rapid temperature corrections.

Target pH 8.0-8.5 and 12-18 dGH, with stable carbonate buffering. These values sit within OATA's general Malawi guidance and describe the mineral-rich alkaline conditions expected by this fish. Test tap and aquarium water before adding buffers. A measured, repeatable mineral routine is safer than chasing a number with unrecorded handfuls of salts or limestone.

Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. Keep nitrate low relative to the source water through stocking control, measured feeding and water changes; OATA advises no more than 20 mg/l above the tap-water level for Malawi cichlids. In alkaline water, ammonia toxicity can become more serious, so rapid breathing or sudden appetite loss should trigger immediate testing rather than a guess at disease.

Match replacement water for temperature and chemistry, neutralise chlorine or chloramine, and avoid sudden large pH shifts. A stable value near the edge of a suitable range is usually safer than repeated corrections across the tank. Record results so gradual changes in alkalinity, nitrate or heater performance are visible before fish show distress.

Sand, Rockwork, Filtration and Lighting

Substrate and floor plan

Use clean fine aquarium sand or another smooth substrate that will not damage the mouth during sand-directed feeding. Keep a broad open zone available. Siphon waste from the surface without sterilising the whole bed, and avoid deep stagnant pockets. Pale sand can make waste easier to see, while a darker background may help the fish feel secure; neither choice guarantees brighter colour.

Rockwork and retreats

Place stable rocks on a secure base before adding deep sand so digging cannot undermine them. Create broken sight lines, shaded edges and more than one retreat, but avoid a maze with no open feeding floor. Every structure must remain stable if a fish excavates beside it. Aquarium-safe stone can support a Malawi look, but decor should not be relied on as an uncontrolled water treatment.

Filtration and oxygen

Use mature biological filtration with strong surface movement and enough mechanical capacity to collect fine waste. Manufacturer flow figures drop after media and pipework are installed, so judge performance by the stocked aquarium. Direct outlets to circulate the full tank without turning the sand bed into a storm or forcing fish to hold position in one jet.

Plants and lighting

Plants are optional. Tough species such as Anubias or Java fern attached to rock may tolerate hard water, but the aquarium should not depend on delicate rooted plants surviving cichlid digging. Use a consistent day-night schedule and moderate light. Intense lighting can increase hiding and does not manufacture adult male colour.

Social Behaviour, Sex Ratio and Aggression

Peacocks are often calmer than strongly territorial mbuna, but they are still cichlids. Males can defend display areas, chase rivals and repeatedly court females. Brief displays and short chases may be normal; persistent cornering, torn fins, missed feeding, surface hovering or one fish remaining dark and hidden show that the social plan is failing.

A common long-term arrangement is one confirmed male with several females. That is a management goal, not the content of a four-fish order. Juvenile and subadult fish are supplied unsexed, and a group may mature into several males or an unsuitable ratio. Buying more fish can spread attention in some systems, but it also increases waste and does not cure an undersized footprint.

All-male peacock displays can be visually striking, but they need careful selection of species, colour patterns and sizes. Similar-looking males may treat each other as direct rivals. Removing and returning fish can also restart the hierarchy. Have a plan for separation before adding the first fish, not only after an injury occurs.

Observation	Possible meaning	Response
Brief display followed by normal feeding	Territorial communication	Monitor frequency, escape routes and fin condition
One fish repeatedly trapped or excluded	Pressure is concentrated on a subordinate fish	Separate if needed and review group composition
Sudden aggression throughout the tank	Water stress, maturation or territory disruption	Test water first, then review layout and stocking
Colour fades after transport	Stress, age, sex or subordinate status may be involved	Stabilise conditions; do not medicate colour alone
A previously calm male begins digging and displaying	Maturation or courtship territory	Watch females and rivals for sustained harassment

Choosing Compatible Tank Mates

The most promising companions are similarly sized Lake Malawi peacocks or calmer haps that use the same hard alkaline water and can feed without being bullied. Compatibility remains conditional on the exact species, adult size, sex, tank footprint, colour pattern and individual behaviour. No product link is an automatic approval for the same aquarium.

Avoid highly aggressive mbuna that can dominate slower, sand-feeding peacocks. Very large predatory haps may eventually treat smaller fish as prey. Small tetras, guppies, shrimp and delicate bottom dwellers are unsuitable. Synodontis catfish can work in some Malawi systems, but the exact species, adult size, diet and need for floor space must be checked.

Keeping several Aulonocara forms together also creates a hybridisation risk if males and females of different populations spawn. That matters even when fry will not be sold: unidentified young can later enter the hobby through swaps or rehoming. Keep only one breeding form where lineage matters, or use an all-male plan with confirmed sex and a management strategy.

Potential companion	Assessment	Main concern
Similarly sized, moderate peacock cichlids	Possible with planning	Male rivalry, feeding access and hybridisation
Calmer medium haps	Conditional	Adult size, diet and ability to compete
Aggressive mbuna	Usually avoid	Peacocks may be chronically chased or excluded from food
Suitable Synodontis species	Conditional	Needs enough floor space, retreats and species-specific compatibility
Small community fish and shrimp	Avoid	Water mismatch, chasing and predation risk
Large predatory haps	Avoid with smaller grades	Size difference can become a predation risk

Browse the cichlid collection by adult requirements, not colour alone. The Rubin Red Peacock, Flavescent Peacock, Steveni Blue Neon Peacock and Nkhomo-Benga Peacock are useful comparisons, not guaranteed tank mates.

What to Feed a Red Flash Peacock Cichlid

Aulonocara are specialised benthic invertivores. In the lake they use sensory pores to detect small crustaceans, insect larvae, snails and other invertebrate prey in or above sand. This differs from the plant-rich grazing diet used for many mbuna. A complete food made for peacock or omnivorous Malawi cichlids should form the captive staple.

Use an appropriately sized slow-sinking pellet or flake labelled as complete, then add measured aquatic invertebrate foods such as mysis, brine shrimp, daphnia or clean small crustacean-based products. Variety should improve nutrition, not turn every meal into a rich treat. Avoid mammal meat, large oily foods and repeated heavy bloodworm meals.

Food role	Examples	How to use it
Complete staple	Quality peacock-cichlid pellet or flake	Base most meals on a food labelled complete
Aquatic variety	Mysis, brine shrimp, daphnia or small crustacean foods	Offer measured portions several times a week
Useful fibre and plant material	Balanced prepared foods containing suitable algae or plant ingredients	Part of a complete formula, not the sole wild-diet claim
Avoid	Mammal meat, oversized prey and repeated rich bloodworm meals	These can be unsuitable and quickly degrade water

Feed adults one or two small meals daily and offer juveniles smaller portions more frequently if water quality and observation allow. Food should be consumed promptly without a pile settling behind rocks. Spread portions across the open floor so subordinate fish can feed, and adjust quantity from body condition and nitrate trend rather than begging behaviour.

Swelling, pale stringy waste or appetite loss is not a diagnosis by itself. Test water, review social pressure and isolate when appropriate. Do not respond automatically with salt, random antibiotics or starvation based on a single internet label. An aquatic veterinarian or experienced aquatic professional is the right route when symptoms progress.

Colour, Sex and the Gallery

Adult male Aulonocara stuartgranti forms can develop strong blue, yellow, orange or red patterning, while females and juveniles are often more subdued. Exact colour depends on population, lineage, age, sex, hierarchy, health, lighting and stress. Because the supplier has not provided a current stock photograph or locality, this listing does not promise the blue-and-red pattern shown in the gallery.

The sole Shopify image is a representative illustration generated before the current reference-image rule was introduced. It shows a highly saturated blue-and-red peacock-type fish in a rocky aquarium. It is retained to protect the existing gallery, but it is not the individual dispatched and cannot prove Red Flash identity, Maulana identity, sex, locality or final adult colour.

Sexing smaller fish remotely is unreliable. A fish selected from the 3-4 cm or 4-5 cm grade may not show mature colour, and a larger fish is not automatically male. Do not buy a colour expectation as if it were a sexed variant. Contact us through the support page before ordering if a current-stock photograph or confirmed sex is essential to your plan; do not assume those requests can always be fulfilled.

Understanding the Four Size Grades

The live product has four approximate grades: 3-4 cm, 4-5 cm, 5-7 cm and 7-9 cm. Availability changes with supplier stock, and an out-of-stock grade remains part of the product rather than being deleted. The selected grade describes the fish at fulfilment, not the amount of aquarium it will need as an adult.

Displayed option	Useful interpretation	Still unknown
3-4 cm	Small juvenile supplier grade	Exact length, sex, age and adult colour
4-5 cm	Growing juvenile supplier grade	Maturity, social rank and future sex ratio
5-7 cm	Larger growing fish	Final size, sex and compatibility with residents
7-9 cm	Larger subadult-style trade grade	Confirmed sex, breeding status or final colour

Choose a grade that will not be dangerously outmatched by established residents, but do not add a large newcomer solely to dominate the tank. Rearranging selected decor before introduction can reduce established territory advantage, provided every rock remains secure. Quarantine and close observation are important at every size.

A Practical Maintenance Routine

Fine food and fish waste can settle between rocks even when the water looks clear. Use a repeatable schedule based on test results, body condition and behaviour. The table is a starting point; the final water-change frequency depends on source-water nitrate, total stock, feeding and real filter performance.

Frequency	Check	Action
Daily	Temperature, breathing, appetite, injuries and filter flow	Investigate a sudden change before adding food or medicine
Weekly	Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and visible waste	Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero and record trends
Weekly starting point	Water-change need	Change about 25-40% as tests and stocking require; match new water
As needed	Waste on sand and restricted intakes	Siphon accessible debris and restore flow without dismantling every territory
Monthly review	Body condition, hierarchy, rock stability and filter media	Adjust feeding or layout and service media without destroying the biofilter

Do not replace all mature media at once or wash the full biological filter under untreated tap water. Clean mechanical sections as needed and preserve colonised media. If pH or alkalinity falls, investigate source water, waste load and maintenance rather than adding an unmeasured correction. Stable husbandry is more valuable than a perfect-looking single test.

Preparing for UK Live-Fish Delivery

Cycle and test the aquarium before choosing a dispatch date. Confirm stable heat, filtration and a secure lid; finish the main sand and rock layout; and keep conditioner, test kits and a clean acclimation container ready. Do not order while expecting the aquarium to complete its cycle after the fish arrives.

Our current delivery and Live Arrival Guarantee page explains dispatch timing, live-animal transport, packaging and attendance requirements. Read the live page before checkout because schedules and weather decisions can change. Someone must be available for the confirmed window, and delivery is not a substitute for a prepared quarantine or display aquarium.

Inspect the sealed bag before opening and follow the supplied acclimation instructions. Dim the tank lights, avoid adding transport water to the aquarium and observe balance and respiration after release. Do not feed heavily on arrival. A new peacock may be pale or hide temporarily, but gasping, loss of balance or severe damage needs immediate attention.

If a fish arrives dead, dying or clearly compromised, keep it in the transport bag while collecting the evidence required by the current Live Arrival Guarantee terms and contact us within the published claim window. The guarantee is subject to attendance, evidence and timing requirements. It is not an unconditional promise that live transport carries no risk.

Health Checks, Quarantine and Common Problems

A settled fish should breathe steadily, hold its fins normally, respond to food and use the open floor without being permanently excluded. Warning signs include rapid gill movement, clamped fins, repeated flashing, white spots, ulcers, swelling, wasting, loss of balance, persistent hiding or refusal to eat. Fighting injuries can become infected if the social cause remains.

Test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and temperature before assuming an infectious disease. Transport stress, unsuitable chemistry and bullying can produce overlapping symptoms. Do not combine medications blindly or use salt as a routine tonic. Check every product against the stock in the aquarium, especially catfish and other medication-sensitive animals.

A separate cycled quarantine aquarium lets you observe appetite, breathing, waste and external condition without exposing established fish. Match hard alkaline water and provide simple inert shelters and a secure cover. Quarantine does not need decorative rockwork that makes observation or cleaning difficult.

Sign	First checks	Do not assume
Rapid breathing	Ammonia, nitrite, temperature, oxygen and gill appearance	One named parasite without evidence
Refusal to eat	Water, bullying, recent transport, swelling and waste	Every case is Malawi bloat
Torn fins	Aggression pattern, sharp decor and secondary infection	Medicine alone will fix the social cause
Faded colour	Age, sex, hierarchy, lighting, water and transport stress	The fish is misidentified or sick solely from colour
White spots or flashing	Quarantine history, water and full-body examination	A random treatment is safe for every tank resident

Maternal Mouthbrooding Without a Pair Promise

Aulonocara are maternal mouthbrooders. A male establishes a display area, courts a receptive female and fertilisation occurs as she collects eggs. The female then carries the developing brood in her mouth and may eat little during incubation. This behaviour is interesting to observe, but it does not make breeding "easy" in a welfare sense.

Breeding requires confirmed sexes, a suitable social structure, a mature aquarium and a plan for the female and fry. One male with several females is commonly used to spread courtship attention, but the unsexed size grades on this listing cannot guarantee that arrangement. A single female exposed to persistent male pressure may need separation.

Do not mix different peacock forms if the goal is identifiable offspring. Females can look similar and hybrid fry may be impossible to assign confidently. Record parentage, do not market uncertain young under a locality name, and prepare enough grow-out capacity before encouraging a spawn. We do not recommend routine egg stripping to inexperienced keepers.

How Red Flash Compares with Other Peacock Listings

Trade names can make several red, blue or yellow peacocks sound equivalent. The important differences are the supplier identity, any known locality, adult size, temperament, sex and whether the image documents real stock. The listings below are comparisons for research; sharing a genus or colour does not prove compatibility or the same care detail.

Listing	Identity shown on that page	Why compare it
Rubin Red Peacock	Aulonocara sp. "Rubin Red"	Another red aquarium trade form; not the same stock
Flavescent Peacock	A. stuartgranti "Chilumba"	Shows why a locality label should not be copied without evidence
Steveni Blue Neon Peacock	Blue Neon or Chiwindi trade identity	Useful colour and stocking comparison, not an automatic companion
Nkhomo-Benga Peacock	Aulonocara baenschi	A different accepted species with similar Malawi requirements

When choosing, compare actual size availability, adult plan and your existing fish rather than trying to match the brightest thumbnails. Use the broader UK tropical-fish shop to inspect alternatives, then return to the care details and live stock status before checkout.

Price, First-Order Discount and Buying Boundaries

The buy box shows the current price and availability for each size. Price differences reflect the selected grade and live Shopify stock. A quantity discount does not promise a pair, and selecting four fish does not guarantee a safe group. Out-of-stock sizes remain visible so customers can understand the full product rather than seeing variants silently removed.

Eligible first-time customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off under the current special-offer terms. Enter the code at checkout and confirm the final basket, because eligibility and interaction with other pricing are controlled by Shopify. Do not choose extra livestock merely to reach a pricing tier.

Before paying, confirm that the aquarium is cycled, the water matches, the adult footprint is available and someone can attend delivery. If the fish's sex, current appearance or suitability with an existing cichlid is essential, use the contact page before ordering. A precise question and full stock list are more useful than a broad request for a "peaceful" fish.

Evidence and Source Boundaries

This page separates supplier facts, scientific species evidence and store recommendations. Petra supplies the Red Flash trade identity and four size grades but no locality, image or husbandry record. Adult size, distribution, temperature and sand-invertebrate feeding come from FishBase's Aulonocara stuartgranti profile. The accepted name and type-locality record can be checked in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes.

The sensory-feeding explanation is based on peer-reviewed research on the widened lateral-line system in Aulonocara and peer-reviewed Lake Malawi trophic and habitat research. Practical chemistry and water-quality targets use OATA's UK Malawi-cichlid welfare guidance.

The named Maulana comparison is drawn from a specialist Chitimba Bay Maulana profile, which also records Maulana, Bi-colour and A500 as export names for that form. It is used to explain why the old name is locality-specific, not to assign this supplier stock to Chitimba Bay. Aquarium size and social guidance are conservative Tropical Fish Co recommendations built from the linked evidence and the uncertainty of unsexed trade stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of the Red Flash Peacock Cichlid?

The supplier identifies it as Aulonocara stuartgranti Red Flash. The species name is accepted, but the shipment has no supplied locality or strain history, so Red Flash remains a trade-form description rather than a formal wild-population claim.

Is this the same fish as Maulana Bicolor 500?

That cannot be confirmed. Maulana or Bicolor 500 is associated by specialists with a Chitimba Bay form, while Petra supplies this stock only as Red Flash. The old Maulana Bicolor wording is retained as a legacy search explanation, not as the product's proven identity.

Does one quantity mean one fish?

Yes. Each quantity adds one unsexed fish in the selected approximate size grade. The product does not include a pair, and the displayed image does not change the number sent.

Will two Red Flash Peacocks be a breeding pair?

No. Two unsexed fish are not a guaranteed male/female pair and may be incompatible. Sex, bonding, fertility and breeding are not promised by a size option or multi-buy price.

What tank size does an adult group need?

Plan at least 300 litres with a 120 cm footprint for a managed adult peacock group. Use more space for multiple males, a mixed display, large companions or decor that removes substantial swimming area.

How large does Aulonocara stuartgranti grow?

FishBase reports a maximum published total length of 11.8 cm, so about 12 cm is a sensible adult planning size. Individual growth varies, and the dispatch grade does not predict an exact final length.

What temperature should the aquarium be?

Use 23-26°C as the practical listing range. Keep the temperature stable, provide good oxygenation and match replacement water rather than making sudden corrections to reach one exact number.

What pH and hardness does this peacock need?

Target pH 8.0-8.5 and 12-18 dGH with stable alkalinity. Test source and tank water, keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, and change mineral levels gradually through a measured method.

What should I feed a Red Flash Peacock?

Use a complete peacock-cichlid pellet or flake as the staple, with measured mysis, brine shrimp, daphnia or other clean aquatic invertebrate foods. Avoid mammal meat, oversized prey and repeated rich meals.

Are Red Flash Peacock Cichlids aggressive?

They are semi-aggressive cichlids. Males can defend display areas and chase rivals or females. Brief display may be normal, but injury, exclusion from food or persistent hiding requires intervention.

Which tank mates are suitable?

Similarly sized moderate peacocks or calmer haps may work in a spacious hard-water aquarium, but every match is conditional. Avoid highly aggressive mbuna, small community fish, shrimp and companions that can swallow the selected size.

Can I keep several peacock colour forms together?

It is possible in a carefully managed display, but males may compete and mixed forms can hybridise. If lineage matters, keep one breeding form. An all-male plan requires confirmed sex and backup space.

Are the size options sexed?

No. The current variants are approximate size grades only. Juvenile sexing can be unreliable, and even a larger grade does not guarantee a male, mature colour or breeding readiness.

Is the product image a photograph of the fish I will receive?

No. The retained image is a representative illustration, not a dispatch photograph. It cannot prove the fish's colour, sex, locality, Red Flash markings or Maulana identity.

How do these peacock cichlids breed?

They are maternal mouthbrooders: the female carries the developing brood in her mouth. Successful breeding needs confirmed sexes, suitable social structure, stable water and space for the female and fry.

How long does a Red Flash Peacock live?

The supplier did not provide a lifespan, and this listing does not promise a fixed number. Long-term outcome depends on identity, genetics, water stability, diet, social stress and health care.

Is UK live delivery covered by a guarantee?

Qualifying orders are covered by the published Live Arrival Guarantee, subject to attendance, evidence and claim-time requirements. Read the current delivery and returns pages and be available for the confirmed delivery window.

Can a first-time customer use WELCOME10?

Eligible first-time customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off under the current offer terms. Enter it at checkout and verify the basket because Shopify controls eligibility and interaction with other discounts.