Golden Peacock Bass - Cichla Kelberi
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
The Golden or Kelberi Peacock Bass is the most manageable Cichla, with a rich yellow-gold body, three dark bars and the familiar tail ocellus, and mature adults develop rows of pale spots along the lower flanks. It comes from the Araguaia and Tocantins rivers of Brazil. Its smaller adult size makes it the best choice for home predator tanks.
- Adult Size: Around 30–40 cm (12–16 in) in aquaria; up to 45 cm (18 in) wild
- Lifespan: 10–12 years
Origin
- Native to: Araguaia and Tocantins basins, central and south-east Brazil
- Habitat: Clear to dark rivers and reservoirs with open water
Feeding
- Diet: Carnivorous, piscivore
- Preferred Foods: Lancefish, whitebait, prawns, mussel, earthworms, large predator pellets
- Feeding Habits: Feed juveniles daily, adults every two to three days; wean onto frozen and pellets
Tank Mates
- Best with: Other Kelberi, large cichlids, arowana, big catfish, bichirs
- Avoid: Anything that fits in the mouth; slow or delicate fish
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Semi-aggressive predator
- Territoriality: Territorial with maturity; groups need space and cover
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Rapid growth, large tank, heavy feeding and waste output
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft and slightly acidic
- Temperature: 25–30°C (77–86°F)
- pH: 5.5–7.0
- Hardness: 2–10 dGH
- Flow: Slow to moderate
- Tank Size: Minimum 700 litres for adults; larger for a group
Final Notes
Although the smallest peacock bass, it still grows quickly and needs a big, well-filtered aquarium, so plan for adult size from the outset. Substrate spawner laying thousands of eggs with both parents guarding; males grow larger with a nuchal hump. Feeder fish are unnecessary; juveniles take frozen food and pellets readily. With its golden colour and manageable size it is the ideal introduction to the genus.
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.