Another consideration that you can make is that there are many different species of African peacock cichlids, so you can experiment with different species to mix varieties and colorations. Although male peacock cichlids tend to travel alone, they become polygamous when they’re ready to breed and will play the field any chance they get! Peacock cichlid care is something that beginning or experienced aquarists should have no trouble with. Dec 19, 2016 - Lake Malawi Peacock Cichlids include some of the most popular species of African cichlids found in the hobby today. When it comes to choosing tank mates, not all Cichlids are compatible. It’s common to keep one species on its own, but you’re not limited to this. It’s ultimately up to you whether you want to give your kribensis cichlids tank mates. You’ll need as much accuracy as possible if you want to care for peacocks the right way. Blood Parrot Cichlid Tank Mates These fishes are not found in the wild we don’t know exactly what kind of fishes are compatible with blood parrot cichlids. In general, any nonaggressive kind of Haplochromis cichlid (like redfin haps) should be good tank mates for your peacock. Sunshine Peacock: These moderately-aggressive fish are resilient, making them another good choice for new hobbyists. Any suggestions? It would help if you were looking for fish species that are either capable of standing up to any aggressive behavior from the cichlids in your tank or that can hide when they need to. The OB peacock cichlid is probably our favorite. With that being said, they can be quite sensitive to changes in their environment. There are over twenty names types of peacock cichlids, and it’s no wonder every species is found in Lake Malawi, as this body of water is the world’s ninth-largest lake! Peacock Cichlids are some of the most colorful fish in the world. When you compare them to a fish like the Jack Dempsey or flowerhorn cichlid, they’re downright pacifists! Remember that peacock cichlids hunt for food near the bottom of their native habitat, so never use gravel for substrate, as it could damage the fish’s gills. If the water parameters waver, you may experience an increase in tension among tank mates, including your African peacock cichlid. You actually have a lot of options when it comes to choosing peacock cichlid tank mates. The African peacock cichlid is an easy tank mate to keep because it is peaceful and easygoing. Also like peacocks, the males have bright colors, while females are drab. As far as their activity level goes, these fish are very active and spend much of their time near the bottom of their native waters sifting through the sand and looking for any movement of potential prey. As for the tank mates, you need to be fairly cautious. Other genetic components play a part as well, but they are impractical to test for. Both females and young fish are a dull gray in color, but males become a stunning shade of iridescent yellow, gold, orange, red, purple or blue as they mature. That’s why it’s important to understand their ideal care requirements so you can keep things as consistent as possible. No matter what species you’re admiring, you’ll agree that peacock cichlids are some of the most colorful freshwater fish species, and it’s only fitting they share their name with a regal bird. Peacock cichlids can be subject to a fatal condition known as Malawi bloat, which is similar to dropsy and results from eating an excess of meaty foods. These fish may be territorial (especially males of the species), but they are generally not aggressive. Peacock Cichlid. When it comes to adding non-cichlid tank mates to your peacock cichlid tank, your consideration will need to be about water compatibility as well as territoriality. Author Note: Some types of peacock cichlids prefer a rocky habitat and others prefer the opposite, so a larger tank can be made to accommodate both. When considering adding additional Peacock cichlid tank mates from one of these species, make sure to consider their individual feeding requirements. The peacock cichlid is one of the most popular freshwater fishes among aquarists all over the world. Obviously a larger tank will also provide enough space for the multiple caves needed to prevent territorial aggression. The blue peacock cichlid is usually blue all over its body with darker vertical stripes that start at the front of their dorsal fin and end at the caudal peduncle. For example, bottom-dwelling fish should be fine with free-swimming cichlids. This will prevent aggression and encourage natural social interactions. This means temperature, pH levels, and hardness all should be kept as consistent as possible. 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