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 jacobfreibergi 
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi 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:
Malawi Butterfly and Trematochromis jacobfreibergi. The top
photo is of a mature male from our hatchery. The middle photo is a young female,
a daughter of the male in the top photo. The bottom photo is of a
young (about eight months old),
sexually mature male about 12.5cm (5 inches) in length. He is a son of the male
in the top photo. His blue colors will intensify with maturity. Our strain was
originally acquired
from a commercial source in mid-2003.
Size: Males can reach 20cm (8 in.). Females are considerably smaller. This is one of the largest peacock cichlids. Our males begin to color up at about 7.5cm (3 inches) in length and at about three months of age.  Description:
Males are colorful with blue lower faces and gill plates, gold bodies
tending toward blue posteriorly and marked with several vertical faint black
bars and gold/orange unpaired fins, which tend to be whitish-blue at the
margins. Females are drab gray fish with very faint black vertical bars on the
bodies. Some females, like the one pictured, sport yellowish-orange pelvic and
anal fins.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).  Geographic
Range: This fish
hails from various locales in Lake
Malawi in eastern Africa. Temperament: This fish is not aggressive for a cichlid, but males can be quarrelsome among themselves. We find it is best to keep only one male or four or more males in an aquarium, allowing aggression to be spread about. Also, the presence of multiple females seems to reduce aggression. They are active fish, constantly interacting with other fish, especially other Aulonocaras and related 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. Ours, especially breeding stock, are given weekly feedings of earthworms, which they learn to take with enthusiasm.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.
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. |
