Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid
Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987
Also called Aulonocara 'Fort Maguire', Firebird Cichlid, Red Flush, Red Flash, Red Peacock
From Endemic to the south-eastern shore of Lake Malawi in Mozambique and Malawi, between Fort Maguire and Masinje, with records also from Mara Point and Thumbi West Island.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Compact peacock cichlid
A tidy, rounded peacock; males show a blue head and body with a bright red-orange patch on the shoulder.2
Personality what they are like
Gentle for a cichlid, often tucking into caves; males are only feisty with similarly patterned fish.21
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A calm bottom-hunter that sifts sand for small creatures and retreats into caves to rest.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Fine sand to sift, caves and rock piles for shelter, and stable, clean hard water.21
Home where they are happiest
A tank with a base of at least 90 x 45 cm (about 182 litres; FishBase suggests 100 cm length), 23 to 29 C, pH about 7.4 to 9.0 and 10 to 25 dGH.21
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Bottom-feeder; give fine-grade quality foods plus small live or frozen chironomid larvae and some vegetable matter, in 3 to 4 small meals.21
Company who they like around
One male with four to six females; pairs well with peaceful cichlids such as Copadichromis and Labidochromis caeruleus.21
The story where it all began
Meyer, Riehl and Zetzsche described it in 1987 from the south-eastern shore of Lake Malawi. Some researchers regard it as a local form of Aulonocara stuartgranti, but it is widely sold in the hobby as the Red Shoulder Peacock.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is known from only a handful of spots on the lake's south-eastern shore.2
- 2
In the wild it likes to hide in caves and hunts tiny invertebrates living in the sand.1
- 3
Scientists still debate whether it is a full species or a regional form of Aulonocara stuartgranti.3
- 4
Females carry their young in their mouths for up to four weeks.2
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated separately; IUCN treats it as a synonym of Aulonocara stuartgranti3
- FishBase
- Listed as a valid species, described by Meyer, Riehl and Zetzsche in 19871
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Red Shoulder Peacock Cichlid. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
You might also like
Sunshine Peacock Cichlid
Red Empress CichlidLike what we are building? Buy Archy a bone.
All of this is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. It was a big job to build, so if it helped you, buy Archy a bone. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Archy is our Australian Cattle Dog and chief taste tester. Tips go to 4V3D OÜ, the small family studio behind Furry Diary.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase species summary: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 fishbase.seused for distribution, size, water parameters, diet, IUCN status, taxonomy
- Seriously Fish: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 seriouslyfish.comused for aquarium care, tank size, behaviour, diet, colours, breeding
- Wikipedia: Aulonocara hansbaenschi Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987 en.wikipedia.orgused for common names, colours, history, fun facts (secondary)
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.