Aulonocara sp. Lwanda

Red Top Lwanda Peacock Cichlid

Max Size:

6.0"

Temperament:

Semi-aggressive

Water Temperature:

78 - 82°F

Diet:

Carnivore

Min. Tank Size:

75 Gal

Description:

The Red Top Lwanda Peacock cichlid is species of Aulonocara from Lake Malawi which is native to the waters Hai Reef in Tanzania and Chiwindi in Tanzania. It is a popular fish due to it's brilliant blue and red colors. Males develop a metallic blue color over their face and most of their body past their shoulders. Their shoulders and pelvic fins develop a dark orange to red color. Their dorsal and anal fins also develop a similar dark orange to red stripe along the edges. Males will get up to 6" in length and females will be a little smaller.

Compatibility:

The Aulonocara sp. "Lwanda" or Red Top Lwanda Peacock is a fairly mild mannered species of Aulonocara from Lake Malawi. Even with their fairly peaceful demeanor, it isn't uncommon for a dominant male to show increased levels of aggression towards other Aulonocara species. A breeding male will also show increased levels of aggression towards tankmates. Some compatible fish are the Lemon Jake Peacock, the Blue Neon Peacock, and the Azureus cichlid.

Tank Requirements and Feeding:

A home aquarium should mimic the natural hard, alkaline water environment of Lake Malawi that Red Top Lwanda Peacocks are native to. The substrate should be sand or fine gravel and there should be plenty of rocks to create caves and passageways for the fish to claim territories or seek protection. The ideal water temperature is between 78 - 82°F with a pH between 7.8 - 8.6. Additives like Cichlid Lake Salt and Malawi/Victoria Buffer will condition the aquarium water for African cichlids.

Red Top Lwanda Peacock cichlids are carnivores and should be fed a variety of foods that contain a good amount of protein. A good diet is a mix of plankton based flakes and commercially prepared cichlid pellets along with live (or frozen) blood worms or brine shrimp. Such foods will help bring out the dark orange to red, and the metallic blue colors in these fish.

Breeding:

Red Top Lwanda Peacock cichlids are sexually dimorphic. Males will develop the bright metallic blue and dark orange to red colors while females remain a dull grey color. Males will also get slightly lager than females.

Like all Aulonocara, the "Lwanda" or Red Top Lwanda is a mouthbrooder. While spawning, the female will pick up and hold the eggs in her mouth to protect them. A good practice when breeding is to keep three to six females with one male when breeding. This will help spread out any aggression displayed by the male.

All Aulonocara species will hybridize. If you want to avoid hybridization, it is best to either, only keep males, or only keep one species of Aulonocara.