OB Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara sp. (OB)
The OB Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara sp. (OB)) is a semi-aggressive fish that's best left to experienced keepers. Give it a tank of at least 240 litres (63 US gallons), water held at 73-82°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 (Lake Malawi)
- Africa
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
OB Peacock Cichlid 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 73-82°F and a pH around 7.5-8.6. They reach about 15 cm as adults, so don't be misled by the small juveniles sold in stores.
What Do OB Peacock Cichlids 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.
OB Peacock Cichlid Tank Mates
Lake Malawi hap - needs hard, alkaline water like other Rift Lake cichlids, but generally less relentlessly aggressive than mbuna. Some haps are opportunistic predators of smaller fish once adult - avoid keeping with nano species. Provide open swimming space as well as rockwork. The OB Peacock Cichlid is semi-aggressive, 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 OB Peacock Cichlids 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.
OB Peacock Cichlid - frequently asked questions
What size tank do OB Peacock Cichlids need?
OB Peacock Cichlids 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 OB Peacock Cichlids need?
Keep them at 73-82°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 OB Peacock Cichlids eat?
OB Peacock Cichlids 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 OB Peacock Cichlids good for beginners?
OB Peacock Cichlids are not a beginner species. They need precise conditions and consistent maintenance, so build experience with hardier fish before keeping them.
Common mistakes with OB Peacock Cichlids
- 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 OB Peacock Cichlid 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 OB Peacock Cichlids
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
- Zebra DanioFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
- Black Skirt TetraFin nipper - will shred the fins of peaceful fish
