Peacock Cichlid Temp

I have 2 peacock cichlids in a 50 gallon, it's my living room "show tank". These are my first 2 cichlids ever, they are just over an inch long. I'd like them to thrive and grow/ mature as quick as possible (like anyone would). From the research I've done my temp should be 73-82 degrees that's almost a 10 degree range... does anyone have an exact temp that has work well for them and any other tips for that matter would be appreciated!

 

I keep my African cichlid tank at 76. The peacocks in there spawn often and the fry I am raising are at the same temp, perhaps a degree higher. Warms temps means faster metabolism, growth, and increased need for food. If you want them to grow faster then perhaps shoot for 78F and feed 3 times a day.

If you plan on stocking more African cichlids might want to do it all in a few groups sooner rather than later. Having fish all around the same size growing up together makes for a more peaceful tank, until males start maturing anyways. Plan to overstock and remove fish that just won't work, such is the life of an African cichlid keeper.

 

I think I'm going to stick with these 2. When you say feed 3 times a day do you mean like one pellet each 3 times a day?

 

I think I'm going to stick with these 2. When you say feed 3 times a day do you mean like one pellet each 3 times a day?

I agree. 76 to 78F. Feed them what they'll eat in a couple minutes. I also agree that if you eventually DO have problems with aggression between the two, more fish help diffuse the aaggression. Peacocks typically live in well populated, rocky/sandy lake bottom environments. Lots of caves, hidey holes, sand or fine gravel so they can dig, and breaks in sightlines help decrease aggression. Most cichlids are MUCH more docile than they were just 30-40 years ago. Because of captive and cross breeding they're much friendlier now. Convicts, Firemouths and several others used to actually attack and bite the occasional hand or finger that invaded their territory. That hardly ever happens these days.

 

They will likely eat more than 1 pellet each. I know my juveniles will stuff their mouths full of food. Just do a small pinch, enough that both fish get a few pellets each, assuming they are small pellets.

Also, African cichlids are a species that are usually recommended to over stock with. Having just two in one tank will more than likely lead to one killing the other later down the road. Having several will spread aggression so no one fish gets singled out and picked on till it dies. A 50gal tank should easily hold 10 of the average sized (4-6in) MalawI cichlids.

 

What kind of peacocks you got?

Males?

Make sure you buy quality food, like from Omega One, Cobalt, Hikari, New Life Spectrum etc..... Even Kensfish.com has good "in-house" brand of foods I have bought and worked well.

Quality food has less fillers and will bring out the colors more of the fish.

Variety is good also. Flakes and pellets.

Look up and research "MalawI bloat".

Have you found some cichlid/freshwater aquarium YouTube channels that you like yet? a ton of info can be found on some good YouTube hobbyist channels.

Cichlids also like excellent filtration and tank turnover rate.

When they start to get territorial and agressive, you may want to consider uping the stock and keeping all males. This spreads out the aggression so no one fish bears the brunt of it.

 

I've had african cichlids for over 35 years (except for a 6 year gap) and never had any with MalawI bloat. Perhaps because all were captive bred or fry from my own fish. If you maintain your tank and water quality, feed a quality well balanced diet, provide a natural environment and keep stress at a minimum the chances of your fish getting bloat are low to zero.

What kind of peacocks you got?

Males?

Probably too early to know the gender. They're "just over an inch long".

 

This is one of them. I'm feeding them cichlid gold Lg pellets

 

The babies are so cute! Do you know which Peacock they are? Do they look alike? Aren't those pellets huge for these little guys?

 

Theres the other dude. I looks like as the pellet absorbs water it softens they get them down I also have a large upsidedown cat fish I feed run of the mill pellets to I think they're munching on that to

 

I use minI pellets for fish that size. Aqueon has a nice slow sinking minI cichlid pellet I like for my 1-2in fry. They’re about the size of the average betta pellet.

The orange looking peacock is a nice looking dragons blood. They can look stunning as they age.

The second fish doesn’t look like a peacock at all. Might just be the angle though.

 

Little bit better? What did I buy then? Lol

 

About 90% sure that is a jewel cichlid, which will not do too well with any of the Rift lake cichlids.

 

So sounds like I need to add 4-5 fish. Do I only stick with dragons blood peacocks and and jewels then?

Did some googling it definitely fits the jewel cichlid category

 

I'd personally return the jewel cichlid and just get about 6 more peacocks. While jewel cichlids are technically African cichlids as they do come from Africa, they are not the large and aggressive mouth brooding species commonly referred to as "African cichlids". Only keep African cichlids with other Africans, it's a very good rule to stick to. Of course there are exceptions, I keep a lace synodontis and raphael catfish with mine and I've seen BN plecos with them too, but they are bottom feeders and more easily tolerated.

Look for OB peacocks, I think you may like them.

 

Hhhh... that one was mine... the dragon blood was my fiances pick lol. She loves her fish. In retrospect the little jewel seems very skittish compared to the other anyway. Well thanks for the info folks! These are a bit more complex then my guppys and goldfish I'll get a handle on it though. On the upside who dosnt love fish shopping!!!