Butterfly peacock bass
Cichla ocellaris
- Tank length
- 330 cmabout 11 ft (130 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 23–27 °C73–81 °F
- pH
- 6.4–7.5
- Adult size
- 55 cm22 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
A fast-growing piscivore that reaches monster size and eats any fish it can catch; only for huge display tanks.A fast-growing piscivore that reaches monster size and eats any fish it can catch; only for huge display tanks.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- African butterfly cichlid
Butterfly peacock bass may eat African butterfly cichlidButterfly peacock bass may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Butterfly peacock bass may eat African clawed frogButterfly peacock bass may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Agassiz's coryButterfly peacock bass may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishButterfly peacock bass may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpButterfly peacock bass may eat Amano shrimpButterfly peacock bass may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Butterfly peacock bass may eat American flagfishButterfly peacock bass may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Angfa rainbowfishButterfly peacock bass may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Arfak rainbowfishButterfly peacock bass may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailButterfly peacock bass may eat Assassin snailButterfly peacock bass may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Banded gouramiButterfly peacock bass may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Bandit coryButterfly peacock bass may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 23–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.4–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 5–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Guianas and adjacent Amazon/Orinoco drainages | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | active | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | middle | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 300 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |