2 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Fairly peaceful for a Malawi cichlid; avoid aggressive mbuna as tank-mates.
71 species in our list are a good match.
Fairly peaceful for a Malawi cichlid; avoid aggressive mbuna as tank-mates.
Cichlid pellets and flakes with frozen brine shrimp, mysis and bloodworms a few times a week.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Males are larger and more colourful than females, which are plain grey-brown.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Maternal mouthbrooder (harem) · Moderate
A maternal mouthbrooder kept as one male with 4 or more females; the female carries the brood for up to 4 weeks.
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.
A long-finned peacock from southern Lake Malawi, described by Johnson in 1974 and named after Jacob Freiberg, a fish importer from Verona, New Jersey, who helped collect the type specimens. Red 'eureka' and other colour strains are aquarium-bred.
This peacock was described in 1974 in a different genus, Trematocranus. It is one of the larger and most widely traded Aulonocara, often sold as the 'Eureka' or fairy peacock in its various forms. Males are known for their long fins and bright colours.
First described by Johnson in 1974.
15 facts checked with sources
Seriously Fish lists Trematocranus trevori, T. jacobfreibergi and T. regina as erroneous names. Trade names: fairy cichlid, Freiberg's peacock, 'lemon jake'.
FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summaryLegacy had no family.
FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summaryFishBase 15 cm TL; Seriously Fish up to 17 cm SL.
FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summary · Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy 24-28 °C. FishBase 24-26 °C.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiFishBase 7.5-8.0.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy had no hardness. FishBase dH 9-19.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiSeriously Fish base 120 x 60 cm; 120 x 60 x 60 cm ≈ 432 L. Legacy 250 L is well below this.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiOne male with 4 females = 5 fish.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiMales react aggressively to fish with a similar colour pattern.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiSeriously Fish difficulty 6 of 8; needs a well-established tank.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy had no native range.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi · FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summaryLegacy 'bright red' males are ornamental strains ('eureka', colour select); wild males are mostly blue or yellowish.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy said about 3 weeks.
Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy 20-50 eggs and about 3 weeks; count agrees, holding time longer.
FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summary · Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergiLegacy called Freiberg a German aquarist; ETYFish says he was a US fish importer. IUCN: Least Concern (2018).
Wikipedia: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi (cites ETYFish Project, Scharpf & Lazara 2018) · FishBase: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi summary · Seriously Fish: Aulonocara jacobfreibergi