The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Assorted Peacock Aulonocara Malawi African Cichlids
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
Peacock Cichlids are a group of Aulonocara species and colour strains from Lake Malawi, famous for males in electric blue, yellow, orange and red. They have a sleek, bullet-shaped body and hover over sand hunting for food. This assorted selection suits keepers with a large, rocky hard-water aquarium wanting a colourful African cichlid display.
- Adult Size: Around 15 cm (6 in) for males; females around 10 cm (4 in)
- Lifespan: 6–8 years, occasionally longer
Origin
- Native to: Lake Malawi, East Africa (endemic)
- Habitat: Sandy bottoms and rock edges in deep, warm, alkaline water
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, mostly carnivorous
- Preferred Foods: Cichlid pellets, spirulina flake, mysis, brine shrimp, krill, daphnia
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily in small amounts; avoid fatty mammal meat and worms to prevent Malawi bloat
Tank Mates
- Best with: Other peacocks, peaceful haps, yellow labs, synodontis catfish
- Avoid: Mbuna, aggressive haps, small fish, soft-water species
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive; milder than most Malawi cichlids
- Territoriality: Males defend a spawning cave and harass rivals of similar colour
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Needs hard, alkaline water, strong filtration and careful stocking
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, hard and alkaline
- Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
- pH: 7.5–8.5
- Hardness: 10–20 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 300 litres for a group; longer tanks are better
Final Notes
Assorted peacocks may include several species and strains, and they hybridise readily, so keep either one strain or a mixed group you do not intend to breed from. Males colour up over time; juveniles and females are plain silver-brown. Stock one male per several females, provide rockwork with open sand, and avoid mixing with boisterous mbuna. Females are maternal mouthbrooders, holding eggs for about three weeks. A rewarding, long-lived show fish.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.