2016-03-06

(Original title: Introducing the African Peacock Cichlid )



Photo  by Marcel Sigg

General Information:

African Peacock Cichlids are generally found in the great Malawi Lake. The main thing that makes them such a popular fish is their bright and beautiful coloration. Generally speaking the males are brighter in colour however this is not always the case and you will also find that the male fish will outgrow the female anywhere up to 2 inches. There are roughly 30 different species found in the Peacock Family and what would seem to be an endless amount of subspecies.

They like a sandy habitat with plenty of rocks to hide in. You will often here the terms Red Peacock, Gold Peacock or Blue Peacock, these are all different species of this wonderful fish. Its maximum size is roughly 5 inches or so, however they have been known to grow to 7 or 8 inches.

African Peacock Cichlids are known to be peaceful, but like all African Cichlids they also can be quite territorial. This Cichlid will also make great tank mates for a community tank. As with any African Cichlid you should always make sure your tank is of an adequate size, I would recommend as a minimum size 200ltrs or 50gal. Having lots of rocks and sufficient hiding places for African Peacock Cichlids is very important however in saying that they still want room to swim around and be on display. If you intend to breed these wonderful fish the best way is to keep 1 male with 3-4 females, they do breed easily and if the conditions in your tank are right they will do so successfully.

Water Requirements:

Temperature: 24-28c or 72-80F

pH: 7.4-8.6

Hardness: 10-15 dH

Feeding:

African Peacock Cichlids love Bloodworm (Frozen or Fresh) mixing this up with some good quality dry food like New Life Spectrum Cichlid Formula 3 times a day and you can't go wrong, just remember to only feed them what they can eat in 30-40 seconds in one go.

In Closing:

The African Peacock Cichlid is a great fish for a beginner as they do not demand a huge amount of care, in saying that a beginner should always take a close watch on the water conditions but that's goes for anyone that wants to keep any fish.

So if you're after a fish that has beautiful colours, flexible water parameters and all round just an easy fish to keep, than look no further than the humble African Peacock. If looked after they can live for as long as 12 years all the while bringing you an enormous amount of happiness and enjoyment.

If you would like to learn more about African Peacock Cichlids and their environment, visit my site on African Cichlid Success. - NEW eBOOK! Get Instant Access!

Learn everything you need to know about setting up and maintaining a perfect Cichlid Tank including the unbelievably simple secrets the professional breeders use on caring, feeding, breeding and diseases!

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