Dragon's Blood Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp.)

The Dragon's Blood Peacock (Aulonocara sp.) is a line-bred peacock cichlid with a glowing pink-orange to red-orange body and a pale, almost white belly. It is an intermediate, semi-aggressive African cichlid that brings a bright splash of warm color to a peacock or mixed Malawi tank with hard, alkaline water. Browse the rest of our freshwater fish and supplies.

Unlike most peacocks, Dragon's Blood females carry a good share of the pink-orange color too, so a mixed group stays colorful. Males grow larger and get the brightest, deepest red as they mature.

Care Guide

• Tank size: 55 gallons or more for a group. Peacocks need open swimming room plus rockwork to break up territories.
• Water: hard and alkaline, pH 7.8 to 8.6 at 76 to 82°F. Our soft tap water needs remineralizing for African cichlids, and Seachem Replenish plus Seachem Alkaline Buffer do the job.
• Diet: a quality sinking cichlid pellet daily, such as Hikari Cichlid Excel, with frozen foods as a treat. Avoid fatty red meats, which can upset an African cichlid's gut.
• Substrate and decor: sand, with stacked rock or caves along the back and open water up front. Peacocks sift sand and hover in open water more than rock-dwelling mbuna do.
• Maintenance: weekly water changes of 25 to 30 percent. Cichlids are messy eaters, so strong filtration helps keep nitrate down.

Specifications

Compatibility

Best with other peacocks and similar-sized, calmer Lake Malawi cichlids, such as our Kaleidoscope Peacock and Electric Yellow Cichlid. Two males of similar color will fight, so add males of different colors or plenty of rockwork.

Not a community-tank fish: it will eat small fish and shrimp, and it needs much harder water than tetras, rasboras or soft-water plants. Very aggressive mbuna can bully peacocks, so mix them with care.

Recommended Foods & Supplies

• Hikari Cichlid Excel or Hikari Cichlid Staple as the daily pellet
• CaribSea African Cichlid Mix sand to help hold pH and hardness
• Seachem Replenish and Seachem Alkaline Buffer for hard, alkaline water
• Texas Holey Rock cave to break up territories
• Browse all fish foods

FAQ

Is the Dragon's Blood Peacock a natural species? No. It is a line-bred peacock strain, so it is best kept for display and should not be bred with wild-type peacocks.

Will mine get redder? Yes. Color deepens as the fish matures, usually over several months, and young fish start out more orange. Good food, hard alkaline water and a calm tank bring out the best red.

Can it go in my community tank? No. It grows to about 5 to 6 inches, eats small fish and shrimp, and needs hard, alkaline water.

How many should I keep together? One male with several females, or a group of males in a large tank with lots of rockwork.

What size tank does it need? 55 gallons or larger for a group of peacocks.