Peacock cichlid care

Water temperature

76–82°F

Keep peacock cichlids at 76–82°F with a pH of 7.8–8.6, in a tank of at least 55 gallons. Good tank mates include mollies, yellow labs, firemouth cichlids.

Calmer than mbuna. Keep one male per colour or many males.

Aulonocara spp.

pH

7.8–8.6

Minimum tank

55 gal

Adult size

6.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Groups of 4+

Lifespan

6–10 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Carnivore

Best tank mates

• MollyYes
• Electric yellow cichlidYes
• Firemouth cichlidYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• OscarYes
• Chinese algae eaterYes
• Paradise fishYes
• Boesemani rainbowfishYes
• Kissing gouramiYes
• PlatyYes
• SwordtailYes

Full peacock cichlid tank mate chart: 11 yes, 57 with care, 30 no

Peacock cichlid water compared

Fish to keep away from peacock cichlids

• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); peacock cichlids need 76–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Pea puffer At 6 inches a peacock cichlid can swallow a 1-inch pea puffer whole.
• Kuhli loach Different water: kuhli loaches want pH 5.5–7, peacock cichlids want pH 7.8–8.6.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); peacock cichlids need 76–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Ghost shrimp A peacock cichlid is big enough to swallow adult ghost shrimp.
• Cherry shrimp A peacock cichlid is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Koi Koi are coldwater animals (59–77°F); peacock cichlids need 76–82°F. They overlap only at 76–77°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 6 inches peacock cichlids do.

More cichlids

• Angelfish76–84°F
• Oscar74–81°F
• Discus82–88°F
• Convict cichlid74–82°F
• German blue ram80–86°F
• African cichlid75–82°F
• Blood parrot76–80°F
• Jack Dempsey72–86°F