Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid

Looks how to spot one

Elongated haplochromine cichlid (peacock)

A sleek, torpedo-shaped Malawi cichlid with long, flowing fins. Males are the showpieces, larger and far more colourful than the plainer females, and the fins carry broad pale edges.14

Personality what they are like

A moderately assertive cichlid. Males can be pushy towards fish with a similar look, but the species is generally calmer than the mbuna rock-dwellers of the same lake.14

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active swimmer that needs open swimming room plus rockwork; it spends a lot of time sifting through sand for food.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Needs a mature aquarium with very good water quality: strong filtration and large weekly water changes (around 30 to 50 percent) are advised.1

Home where they are happiest

Tank with a base of at least 120 x 60 cm (about 430 litres), fine sand with piles of rock. Temperature 24 to 29 C, pH 7.5 to 9.0, hardness roughly 9 to 25 dGH.12

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Naturally sifts the sandy bottom for small invertebrates. Offer quality prepared foods plus frozen or freeze-dried items such as bloodworm and Artemia, with some plant matter, split into 3 to 4 small meals a day.12

Company who they like around

Best kept as one male with several (4 to 6) females. Avoid mixing with other Aulonocara species, since they can crossbreed.1

The story where it all began

The wild species was named in 1974 in honour of Jacob Freiberg, a New Jersey fish importer who helped collect the type specimen. It was one of the earliest peacock cichlids in the hobby, and the bright 'Eureka' line was developed in captivity from fish of the Otter Point population.31

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Wild species A. jacobfreibergi: Least Concern (assessed 22 June 2018)2

Taxonomy

Species described by Johnson in 1974; 'Eureka' is a selectively bred ornamental strain, not a separate species1