Species

Red shoulder peacock

Aulonocara hansbaenschi

moderatesemi aggressivemiddle swimmerCichlidae
Add to my tank
Red shoulder peacock
Tank length
120 cmabout 4 ft (47 in)
Start with
1
Temperature
23–27 °C73–81 °F
pH
7.6–9
Adult size
11 cm4 in
Lifespan
6–10 yrs

Sand-sifting peacock that hunts in open sand; avoid housing with similar red-shouldered males to limit fights.Sand-sifting peacock that hunts in open sand; avoid housing with similar red-shouldered males to limit fights.

Tank sizes

Good tankmates

Avoid with

Data used by the planner
Temperature23–27AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence
pH7.6–9AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence
Hardness (dGH)10–30AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence
OriginLake Malawi, East Africacurated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence
Beginner friendlyNocurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Care levelmoderatecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Activitymoderatecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Swimming levelmiddlecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Temperamentsemi aggressivecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Nips finsNocurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Long finsNocurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
TerritorialYescurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Lives in groupsNocurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Minimum group1curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Dietcarnivorecurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Lifespan (years)6–10curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence
Months to adult size12curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence
Safe with plantsYescurated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence
Minimum tank length120curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence