Goliad, Texas 77963
Fax 361.645.2258
Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com
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Goliad Farms, INC. | 8497 FM 622 Goliad, Texas 77963 |
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361.645.2252 Fax 361.645.2258 Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com |
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Contents
Fish
Cichlids |
Aulonocara baenschi 
Aulonocara baenschi is a peacock cichlid from Lake Malawi in eastern Africa. (Click here for a general
discussion of cichlids.) It is also known by the following names:
New Yellow Regal Peacock, Aulonocara Benga, and Nkhomo-Benga Peacock. The photo is of a
young, sexually mature male about 12.5cm (5 inches) in length. Male peacocks
usually don't achieve their full beauty until they are more than two
years old. The top photo is a mature male about fourteen months old. The middle
photo is a son of the first fish and is a young male (about six months old) not
yet showing mature coloration or finnage. The bottom photo is a young female
just reaching sexual maturity. Our strain is from a commercial
source. We acquired the strain in 2003.
Size: Males often reach 15cm (6 in.). Females are considerably smaller. Description: Males are colorful with blue faces and gill plates, gold bodies spangled with blue squiggles and marked with several vertical faint black bars and gold/orange unpaired fins. Caudals are usually spangled with blue. Females are drab brownish-gray fish with very faint black vertical bars on the bodies. Females sometimes have blushes of yellow in the fins.
Temperament: This fish is not aggressive for a cichlid, but males can be quarrelsome among themselves. They are active fish, constantly interacting with other fish. It can be kept either in a large single species aquarium or in active community aquaria with fish with similar behavior and requirements. Feeding: Feeding is simple with the fish taking prepared foods as well as live and frozen foods. Periodic feedings of Daphnia or other live foods are helpful in color maintenance, general health and breeding.
Additional
Information: For more information about this species, click on one of
the following article names: Additional
Photos: For additional photos of this species, click on one of the
following photo locations: Page last modified December 27, 2007. |
Environment:
This fish tolerates pHs from 6.5 to 8.0 while preferring pHs at near the higher end
(basic) of this range. Water hardness is not critical, but it prefers very
hard
water. Optimum temperature ranges from 20-30°C (68-85°F).
Spawning:
We maintain breeding colonies of this peacock consisting of a single male with
six to twenty females.
This cichlid breeds like other members of its genus. It is a maternal mouth brooder.
At 30°C (85°F), females carry eggs and fry for about 21 days. Broods are
smaller than those of most cichlids, but can be as large as 40 fry for mature females.
We do not strip eggs or fry, but allow the females to carry them to natural
release. The fry are large and can eat
commercial food, Daphnia, brine shrimp nauplii, etc. immediately.
The fry require ample hiding places to survive in the presence of adults.
In our system, fry are provided abundant cover and the adults are removed after
four to six weeks to allow the fry to grow out.