Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987
Also called Aulonocara 'Fort Maguire', Firebird Cichlid, Red Flush, Red Flash, Red Peacock
From Endemic to the south-eastern shore of Lake Malawi in Mozambique and Malawi, between Fort Maguire and Masinje, with records also from Mara Point and Thumbi West Island.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Compact peacock cichlid
A tidy, rounded peacock; males show a blue head and body with a bright red-orange patch on the shoulder.2
Personality what they are like
Gentle for a cichlid, often tucking into caves; males are only feisty with similarly patterned fish.21
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A calm bottom-hunter that sifts sand for small creatures and retreats into caves to rest.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Fine sand to sift, caves and rock piles for shelter, and stable, clean hard water.21
Home where they are happiest
A tank with a base of at least 90 x 45 cm (about 182 litres; FishBase suggests 100 cm length), 23 to 29 C, pH about 7.4 to 9.0 and 10 to 25 dGH.21
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Bottom-feeder; give fine-grade quality foods plus small live or frozen chironomid larvae and some vegetable matter, in 3 to 4 small meals.21
Company who they like around
One male with four to six females; pairs well with peaceful cichlids such as Copadichromis and Labidochromis caeruleus.21
The story where it all began
Meyer, Riehl and Zetzsche described it in 1987 from the south-eastern shore of Lake Malawi. Some researchers regard it as a local form of Aulonocara stuartgranti, but it is widely sold in the hobby as the Red Shoulder Peacock.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is known from only a handful of spots on the lake's south-eastern shore.2
- 2
In the wild it likes to hide in caves and hunts tiny invertebrates living in the sand.1
- 3
Scientists still debate whether it is a full species or a regional form of Aulonocara stuartgranti.3
- 4
Females carry their young in their mouths for up to four weeks.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated separately; IUCN treats it as a synonym of Aulonocara stuartgranti3
- FishBase
- Listed as a valid species, described by Meyer, Riehl and Zetzsche in 19871
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase species summary: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, diet, IUCN status, taxonomy
- Seriously Fish: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 seriouslyfish.comused for aquarium care, tank size, behaviour, diet, colours, breeding
- Wikipedia: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 en.wikipedia.orgused for common names, colours, history, fun facts (secondary)
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.