Eureka Red Peacock
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
The Eureka Red Peacock (Aulonocara jacobfreibergi) is a semi-aggressive open-water hap; keep as 1 male with 4-6 females fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 240 litres (63 US gallons), water held at 77-84°F, and a pH of 7.5-8.6.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Africa / South America (varies)
- Africa
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Eureka Red Peacock Tank Setup
Give them at least 240 litres (63 US gallons). Cichlids are territorial and produce plenty of waste, so strong filtration and some rocks or wood to break up sight lines both help. Aim for 77-84°F and a pH around 7.5-8.6. They reach about 17 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do Eureka Red Peacocks Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Eureka Red Peacock Tank Mates
May nip fins; avoid with long-finned or slow tankmates. Predatory; may eat small fish or inverts. Requires a large tank and good filtration. The Eureka Red Peacock is semi-aggressive open-water hap; keep as 1 male with 4-6 females, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. Good matches come down to the whole stocking list working together - temperature, tank size, and temperament - not any single label. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Eureka Red Peacocks Good for Beginners?
Not a sensible first purchase. Get the tank cycled, keep easier fish stable for a year, then revisit if you still want the extra work this species demands.
Eureka Red Peacock - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Eureka Red Peacocks need?
Eureka Red Peacocks need a tank of at least 240 litres (63 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Eureka Red Peacocks need?
Keep them at 77-84°F with a pH of 7.5-8.6, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Eureka Red Peacocks eat?
Eureka Red Peacocks are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Eureka Red Peacocks good for beginners?
Eureka Red Peacocks are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with Eureka Red Peacocks
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 240 litres (63 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Check Eureka Red Peacock against any other fish → Compares water parameters, predation risk, fin nipping and tank size, and draws both at life size.
Fish to avoid mixing with Eureka Red Peacocks
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Black Skirt TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Common GoldfishGoldfish - prefer cooler, harder water that tropical fish cannot tolerate
