[redrider93]

I just setup a a 46G bow front. My plan was to put S. Americans in it, but after reading about peacocks, I am very intrigued. My tap water has a natural ph of 8.2, which I believe is well-suited for peacocks. The question I have is...my substrate is regural gravel. Is this ok for peacocks, or is sand mandatory? Any thoughts as to how I make the peacocks happiest?

 

[jh82]

This should be posted in the Malawi forum.

 

[DJRansome]

Peacocks are Malawi, check out the profiles and articles. The scientific name is Aulonocara. Good luck!

 

[Gibbs]

Sand enables fish to exhibit their natural sand sifting behaviour, peacocks and haps especially carry this trait. Basicly they grab a mouth full of sand and sift it through the gills eating anything benificial to them that is held in the sand.
It is not manditory to have sand because they can still do this to gravel but instead of sifting it though they will spit it back out their mouth. Providing the gravel isn't to large.

And yes this is the Malawi forum

 

[Linka]

In my experience sand is better than most of the gravel. Not just because it`s sand, but most gravel has sharp edges and can cut the fish. Now I don`t know what kinda gravel u have in ur country, but here in Norway there is maby one or two gravel types that is ok for sandsifting fish.

 

[kerbchek]

I'm curious what people have to say about peacocks in a 46 bow front tank as well... I have one all set up ready to go... just need the peacocks. I do have some rockwork, and sand as substrate. I've been told some of the smaller Aulonocara that have "peaceful" listed in the profile and only get to about 5" adult size should be suitable... but I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to go about it -

I've been thinking maybe get 8 or 10 juvies, all of one species... then pull out certain ones until I get a certain m/f mix (not sure what that would look like in a 46 gallon tank 1 m/ 3 f???) or pull out all females and leave only males... (I have other tanks I could house the ones I pull out, or sell them to someone else), or I could go splurge and pay big bucks for full sized/sexed males and keep a male only show tank...

Because I'm not sure what to do, this tank has sat empty, ready for fish, for almost a month now... I liked the ngara, bi500, husseri, and maybe ruby reds... these are ones I could purchase here that I thought might be appropriate, but am still thinking...

Good luck,

Kerby

 

[DJRansome]

I'd do the 1m:3f. I think the All Male article recommends a 75G tank minimum since the males will still fight if the space is too limited.

 

[cichlidaholic]

A 46G is big enough to peacocks, but you want to stock the less aggressive ones. I would never put a group of jacobfriebergi in a tank that size, for instance.

How about the A. maulana? (BiColour 500) They are relatively peaceful, have great colour, and I've seen them kept in even smaller tanks.

You would only want single species, though. Mixing groups of peacocks will lead to crossbreeding.

How about a small group of say 4 peacocks (1 male, 3 females) and a group of Yellow labs - maybe 5-6? That should look nice.

Or, you could go with only male peacocks, but would be somewhat limited, since you'd want to stick with the less aggressive ones...

Keep in mind that female peacocks are very drab, and won't really add anything to your tank other than making that male stay coloured up and nice looking all the time.

Kim