Description

The Flavescent Peacock, also known as Aulonocara Stuartgranti Usisya, is a stunning cichlid from Lake Malawi. Below is an in-depth overview of its characteristics, care requirements, and breeding habits:

Scientific Name and Common Name

• Scientific Name: Aulonocara stuartgranti “Usisya”
• Common Name: Flavescent Peacock (sometimes referred to as Usisya Peacock)

Size

• Average Adult Size: 14 cm (5 inches)

Place of Origin

• Lake Malawi: A region in East Africa known for its rich aquatic biodiversity, where the Flavescent Peacock is found in the Usisya region.

Tank Setup

• Typical Setup: A rocky Malawi tank with plenty of open swimming space. This environment mimics their natural habitat of rocky shores with sandy or open areas.
• Recommended Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 200 liters (about 53 gallons)

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F), which aligns with the typical tropical conditions of Lake Malawi.
• pH: 7.6–8.6, slightly alkaline water is ideal for this species.
• Hardness: Moderate hardness (10–18 dH) is recommended to replicate their natural environment.

Feeding

• Diet: Carnivorous
  • Preferred Foods: Live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and snails.
  • Other Foods Accepted: This species will also accept frozen foods, flake foods, and pellets, though live foods are the preferred diet for optimal health.

Sexing

• Sexual Dimorphism:
  • Males are larger and significantly more colorful than females. They display vibrant hues of yellow (with some variants showing more orange or blue).
  • Females are generally smaller and less colorful.

Breeding

• Reproductive Method: The Flavescent Peacock is an ovophile mouthbrooder, meaning the female holds fertilized eggs in her mouth until the fry are ready to swim free.
• Breeding Setup:
  • Water Conditions: Maintain a pH of 8.0–8.2, a water hardness between 10–18 dH, and a warmer temperature range of 26-29°C (79-84°F).
  • Conditioning: Before breeding, both the male and female should be conditioned with nutritious foods like mosquito larvae, bloodworms, and crustaceans.
  • Spawning Process: The female lays a small number of eggs on the rocky substrate, and fertilization occurs via the dummy-egg method (where the female picks up sperm while attempting to collect eggs from the male’s egg spots).
  • Raising Fry: Once the eggs hatch, the fry can be raised on newly hatched Artemia (brine shrimp) and fine-grade flake foods.

Additional Information

• Appearance: The Flavescent Peacock is a beautiful example of a primarily yellow variant of the Aulonocara cichlid, with males often showcasing intense yellow coloring that may have some orange or blue accents depending on the specific population.
• Compatibility: This species is best kept with other Lake Malawi haplochromine cichlids and other Aulonocara species. Care should be taken to avoid overly aggressive species that might stress the Flavescent Peacock.

Conclusion

The Flavescent Peacock is a visually striking and relatively peaceful species that thrives in an aquarium set up to replicate its natural environment in Lake Malawi. With the right water conditions, diet, and compatible tankmates, this cichlid can become a centerpiece of any Malawi cichlid tank. Their vibrant colors and interesting breeding behavior make them a popular choice for aquarium enthusiasts.