{"product_id":"blue-peacock-aulonocara-nyassae","title":"Blue Peacock | Aulonocara nyassae","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Blue Peacock is the classic Aulonocara — dominant males blaze in metallic blue with hints of gold along the dorsal, glowing under good light. Calm for a Rift Lake cichlid and wonderfully hardy, it is one of the most rewarding peacocks to colour up. Males reach around 15 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAulonocara nyassae is endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it lives over sandy floors near the transition zones between sand and rock. The lake's water is warm, hard and strongly alkaline, and peacocks hunt by hovering over the sand and detecting small prey moving beneath it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDominant males are a brilliant metallic blue, often with a paler blue face and golden highlights on the dorsal fin. Females and subdominant males are a plain silvery-brown, which is normal — only the top male in a group typically shows full colour at any time.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMilder than most Malawi cichlids but still territorial, especially at breeding time. Keep one male with several females to spread his attention, and house with other peaceful-to-moderate Malawi species. Avoid mixing with aggressive mbuna, which will outcompete and stress them.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA sand-sifting carnivore in nature, it does best on a quality cichlid pellet plus frozen foods such as mysis and brine shrimp. Avoid feeding tubifex or excessive mammalian-based foods; too much protein of the wrong type can cause the digestive condition known as Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a sand substrate, rockwork with caves, and hard, alkaline water. Keep temperature at 24–28 °C, pH 7.6–8.6 and hard water. A tank of 200 L or more suits a group, with strong filtration and regular water changes to keep nitrates low. Not reliably plant safe, as they dig and sift sand, though tough plants like Anubias tied to rock can work.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeacocks are maternal mouthbrooders. The male displays over a chosen spot, the female lays and immediately takes the eggs into her mouth, and she then broods the eggs and fry for around three weeks without eating. Females can be moved to a quiet tank to release fry safely.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAulonocara nyassae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlue Peacock (Nyasa Peacock)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 15 cm (males; females smaller)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (territorial)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (sand-sifter): cichlid pellet, frozen mysis and brine shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.6–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 10–25 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water Rift Lake cichlid tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePartial (may dig; tough plants only)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include other peaceful-to-moderate Lake Malawi cichlids such as other Aulonocara peacocks, Copadichromis and calmer haps, along with synodontis catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with aggressive mbuna, large predatory cichlids, and soft-water community fish that cannot tolerate hard, alkaline conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232779452707,"sku":"BA9315","price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232779485475,"sku":"AA2032","price":44.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232779518243,"sku":null,"price":49.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Blue_Peacock_Cichlid_5cm_1f7541a3-ac61-4f33-9cf1-31a8fa966f6a.jpg?v=1781446624","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/blue-peacock-aulonocara-nyassae","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}