Aulonocara Orange Blotch Peacock Malawi African Cichlid

Overview

The Orange Blotch, or OB, Peacock is a captive-bred hybrid Aulonocara carrying the OB gene from Mbuna, giving every fish a unique marbling of orange, blue, white and black. It has the sleek peacock body but a touch more attitude than pure species. Developed from Lake Malawi stock, it suits keepers wanting an eye-catching individual in a hard water cichlid tank.

• Adult Size: Around 15 cm (6 in); males slightly larger
• Lifespan: 6–10 years

Origin

• Native to: Captive-bred hybrid; ancestors from Lake Malawi
• Habitat: Not found in the wild; sand and rock rift lake style

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, leaning towards invertebrates
• Preferred Foods: Quality cichlid pellets, spirulina flake, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, mysis, daphnia
• Feeding Habits: Two or three small meals daily; avoid excess protein

Tank Mates

• Best with: Other peacocks and haps of similar size, Yellow Labs, milder Mbuna
• Avoid: Pure Aulonocara strains you wish to breed, aggressive Mbuna, slow long-finned fish

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; bolder than most peacocks
• Territoriality: Males defend a spawning site 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

Males show the brightest blotching while females are more muted with smaller patches, which helps with sexing. A maternal mouthbrooder that hybridises readily, so keep it apart from pure strains or other OB lines if strain purity matters. Provide fine sand, rock piles, open water and weekly 30 to 50 percent water changes. No two OB Peacocks look alike, which is much of the appeal.