Aulonocara Nyassae Blue Peacock Malawi African Cichlid

Overview

The Nyassae Blue Peacock is the classic blue peacock of the hobby, males shimmering metallic blue from nose to tail with darker vertical bars and blue-edged fins. It has the sleek, bullet-shaped body typical of Aulonocara and hovers over sand hunting for buried food. Of Lake Malawi origin, it suits keepers with a spacious, hard water rift lake aquarium.

• Adult Size: Males around 13 cm (5 in); females smaller and plainer
• Lifespan: 6–10 years

Origin

• Native to: Lake Malawi, east Africa
• Habitat: Sandy areas beside rocks, often in deeper water

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, mainly invertebrates sifted from sand
• Preferred Foods: Quality cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, spirulina flake, daphnia
• Feeding Habits: Two or three small meals daily; avoid fatty mammal meat

Tank Mates

• Best with: Peaceful haps, Copadichromis, Placidochromis, Yellow Labs; one male with several females
• Avoid: Other Aulonocara (they hybridise), boisterous Mbuna, small fish, similar-looking males

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Relatively peaceful for a Malawi cichlid; males chase rivals
• Territoriality: Males hold a spawning territory among the rocks

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: 10–25 dGH
• Flow: Slow to moderate
• Tank Size: Minimum 250 litres with a 120 cm footprint; larger for a mixed group

Final Notes

The true Aulonocara nyassae has barely been seen since its description, so the blue peacocks sold under this name are aquarium strains of the stuartgranti type; treat them as such and keep them away from other peacocks to avoid hybrids. A maternal mouthbrooder, with females carrying eggs for around four weeks. Provide fine sand, rock piles and weekly 30 to 50 percent water changes. Blue peacocks glow under good lighting.