{"product_id":"flameback-cichlid-aulonocara-sp-flameback","title":"Flameback Cichlid | Aulonocara sp. 'Flameback'","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Flameback Peacock is a Lake Malawi Aulonocara whose electric-blue head melts into a blaze of orange-red running the length of the back. Reaching around 13–15 cm, it is one of the more manageable and colourful Rift Lake cichlids, hovering over open sand and hunting by sensing tiny prey with its lateral line.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAulonocara peacocks come from Lake Malawi in East Africa, living over sandy floors and the sand-rock transition zones. The lake is hard, highly alkaline and extremely stable, and those conditions must be reproduced closely for peacocks to hold colour and health.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDominant males carry the full show: a metallic blue face and shoulders with a broad orange-to-red dorsal blaze and blue-edged fins. Females and immature males are a plain sandy-grey, so the striking colour is a male, dominance-linked trait.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSemi-aggressive and territorial, but far milder than most mbuna. Keep one male with several females to spread his attention, and house it with other peacocks and gentler Malawi haps of similar size rather than boisterous rock-dwelling mbuna.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the wild it sifts sand for tiny invertebrates and larvae. Feed a quality cichlid pellet designed for peacocks, with occasional frozen mysis or brine shrimp. Avoid protein-heavy foods such as beefheart or excess bloodworm, which can trigger Malawi bloat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide a soft sandy substrate it can sift, rockwork for territories, and hard, alkaline, well-filtered water kept scrupulously clean. Strong filtration and regular water changes maintain the stable mineral-rich conditions these fish depend on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. The male displays over his patch of sand, and the female collects the fertilised eggs into her mouth, brooding them for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Brooding females can be moved to a quiet tank to release safely.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAulonocara sp. 'Flameback'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFlameback Peacock Cichlid\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13–15 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6–8 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSemi-aggressive (territorial)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (sand-sifting invertivore)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8–8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10–25 dGH (hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water Lake Malawi cichlid aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenerally (Rift Lake tanks are usually rock-and-sand; may dig)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther Aulonocara peacocks, mild Malawi haps, and Rift Lake cichlids of similar size that share its hard, alkaline water and even temperament.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAggressive mbuna, soft-water community fish, small fish that will be eaten, and other similar-coloured peacock males that will provoke constant conflict.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232778961187,"sku":"AA2282-S","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232778993955,"sku":"AA2282","price":29.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232779026723,"sku":"AA2282-L","price":34.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/flameback-cichlid-aulonocara-43879384219939.webp?v=1790305551","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/flameback-cichlid-aulonocara-sp-flameback","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}