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 nyassae 
Aulonocara nyassae is a peacock cichlid from Lake Malawi in eastern Africa. (Click
here for a general discussion of cichlids.) The
top photo is a mature male showing his fright pattern of black bars due to his
unhappiness at being removed from home to be photographed. The bottom photo is a
young female. Our
strain was acquired from a commercial source in 2003.
Size: Males can reach 20cm (8 in.). Females are considerably smaller. Description: Males are colorful with blue bodies, which tend to yellow ventrally and yellowish fins with blue spangles. The dorsal, pelvic and anal fins are often whitish-blue at the margins. Males have pointed anal and dorsal fins and slightly elongated pelvic fins. Females are drab brownish fish with very faint black vertical bars on the bodies. Females' unpaired fins are rounded.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. 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.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. |
