A metallic blue face and shoulders melting into a body of pure buttercup yellow, lit up like enamel under aquarium light. Peacocks hunt by feel, hovering over sand and listening for movement beneath it.
Temperament
Common health issues
- Bloat (GDV)
- Ich (white spot)
- Fin rot
Care at a glance
- ExerciseModerate
An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.
- GroomingAttentive tank care
Sensitive to water quality โ stay on top of testing and maintenance.
- Living spaceNano-tank friendly
Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.
- Owner experienceSome experience helps
A little know-how makes life smoother.
- Commitment7โ10 years
Plan for a long, loving relationship.
Health to watch: Bloat (GDV) ยท Ich (white spot) ยท Fin rot
๐ Care guide
The Sunshine Peacock (Aulonocara baenschi), also sold as the Benga or new yellow regal peacock, comes from the sandy shallows around Nkhomo Reef in Lake Malawi and reaches about 10 to 13 cm. Only mature males carry the blue and yellow; females are a plain silvery brown all their lives, which is worth knowing before paying for six colourful fish and receiving one. Peacocks feed by hovering over open sand and using their lateral line to detect invertebrates moving below the surface, then striking down into it. A male with three or four females needs 250 litres or more at 24-27C, pH 7.8 to 8.6 in hard water, with a sand bed, some rock cover and genuine open space to cruise. Feed a quality cichlid pellet plus frozen mysis, cyclops and brine shrimp; peacocks take more protein than mbuna but are still bloat-prone, so no beef heart and no overfeeding. Critically, peacocks and mbuna do not belong in the same tank: the mbuna are faster, harsher and eat a different diet, and the usual result is a stressed, faded, underfed peacock. Keep peacocks with other peacocks and Malawi haps instead.
Frequently asked questions
How active is a Sunshine Peacock?
Moderate. An active swimmer that appreciates open swimming space.
How much maintenance does a Sunshine Peacock need?
Attentive tank care. Sensitive to water quality โ stay on top of testing and maintenance.
What tank size does a Sunshine Peacock need?
Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.
Is a Sunshine Peacock a good fit for first-time owners?
Some experience helps. A little know-how makes life smoother.
How long do Sunshine Peacock live?
7โ10 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.
What health issues affect the Sunshine Peacock?
Keep an eye out for Bloat (GDV), Ich (white spot), Fin rot. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.
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