Breeding the sulphur-head peacock
A maternal mouthbrooder kept as one male with 4 or more females; the female carries the brood for up to 4 weeks.
Step by step
One male with 3-5 females in a sandy tank; males defend a cave or a cleared sand patch.
200-300 L tank with sand, caves and flat stones, hard alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.5), strong filtration and a moderate group of females.
Good condition on varied protein foods, warm stable water and a dominant male displaying at a sand scrape or cave.
Up to about 50 eggs per brood, carried for up to 4 weeks.
The female releases fry after 3-4 weeks. Feed crushed flake and newly hatched brine shrimp; fry grow steadily in clean, warm water.
- Keeping several males in a small tank
- Mixing with similar peacocks and creating hybrids
- Overfeeding rich food and fouling the water
Male or female
Males are larger and more colourful, with a bright yellow band from the snout over the back and along the dorsal-fin edge (whitish in the Kande Island form); females are drab.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for mouthbrooders
- 21 days beforeGroup and condition
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
- Day 0Spawning
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
- Day 21Release
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
- Day 21First food
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
- Day 90Grow-out
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.