The Aulonocara baenschi, commonly called Yellow Regal or Sunshine Peacock Cichlid, hails from Lake Malawi in Africa. Males boast striking yellow bodies with iridescent blue highlights and elongated dorsal fins, while females are more subdued in silver-gray tones. These mouthbrooding cichlids grow to 11 cm (4.3 inches), offering a peaceful yet colorful addition to aquariums.

Ideal Aquarium Setup

For beginners, set up a tank with fine sand substrate to mimic their natural foraging habitat—avoid gravel to prevent gill damage or ingestion. Create rock piles for hiding and territories, leaving open swimming spaces. A minimum 125-liter (33-gallon) tank suits a small group, with strong filtration for their preference for hard, alkaline water.

Rockwork and sand setup ideal for Aulonocara baenschi natural behavior.​

Water Parameters

Maintain stable conditions: temperature 24-28°C (75-82°F), pH 7.5-8.5, and hardness 10-25 dGH to replicate Lake Malawi. Perform 30-50% weekly water changes to keep nitrates low, using a test kit for beginners to monitor parameters easily.

Feeding Guide

Offer 3-4 small meals daily rather than one large feeding to promote natural browsing. Use high-quality cichlid flakes with spirulina, frozen or live brine shrimp, mysis, and chironomid larvae. Supplement with vegetable matter for optimal color and health—avoid overfeeding to prevent bloating.

Compatibility and Behavior

Peaceful and non-aggressive, they suit species-specific Malawi cichlid tanks or communities with other peacocks, haps, and bottom-dwellers like Labidochromis. Keep one vibrant male with 3+ females to reduce rivalry. They may breed readily, with females mouthbrooding eggs for 21-28 days.

Breeding Tips for Beginners

Males display to entice females; after spawning, the female holds eggs in her mouth. Provide a separate fry tank post-release, feeding crushed flakes or baby brine shrimp. Good water quality boosts fry survival rates.