Table of Contents
Introduction to Strawberry Peacock Cichlid
The strawberry peacock cichlid is a freshwater fish as it’s quite obvious from its name because cichlids are freshwater fishes. They originate from the South of Lake Malawi. They come from the Cichlidae family.
They are called strawberry cichlid because of their beautiful bright pink and red color. They have dot patterns on their body. They have a lifespan of 6-8 years. They are semi-aggressive cichlids.
They swim underneath the water and close to the sand. They are bottom dwellers. They are active swimmers and they like to swim in warm water. They are quite popular aquariums fishes but also they are slightly rare to find as compared to other cichlids.
Fun facts about Strawberry Peacock Cichlid
- They are mouth brooders
- They are sexually dichromic
- They are bottom dwellers
- Their body color can turn white from pink when they are under stress.
- They are semi-aggressive
- They are territorial and they need their own space
- They like to swim in warm water which imitates their natural habitat
Size of Strawberry Peacock Cichlid
Male strawberry peacock cichlids are larger than female strawberry peacock cichlids. They have a difference of 4 inches. Male strawberry peacock can grow up to 6 inches or even larger when it reaches adulthood.
Appearance
No doubt, the strawberry peacock cichlid is a very beautiful and bright-colored cichlid. The bright pink color makes it unique among other cichlids. Male strawberry peacock cichlids have a more prominent pink color than females. Females are slightly dull in color. Both male and female strawberry peacock cichlid have dot patterns on their body.
The color of strawberry peacock cichlid might change to white when they are under stress.
Is strawberry peacock cichlid aggressive?
Yes, strawberry peacock cichlid is semi-aggressive. It is best to keep one male strawberry peacock cichlid to four females.
They act aggressive when it comes to territory so they are definitely territorial.
If they don’t get their own personal space they will get aggressive and will start biting other fishes.
How can we reduce aggression?
If you want to reduce aggression in strawberry peacock cichlid, then you must add plenty of plants and caves in the tank so strawberry peacock cichlids can make their own territories and won’t fight for space. This will also make the environment of the tank safe for the fish.
Points to be noted
- Don’t overcrowd the tank.
- They like to have their own personal space
- Add plenty of plants to the tank
- Add caves in the tank so strawberry peacock cichlid can have their own separate territory
- Make sure your aquarium has lots of space so the fish can swim freely
- Keep the tank clean at all times.
- If there are any unwanted food items in the tank, remove them as soon as possible to avoid fungus and dirt to occur in the tank.
Disease and Parasites
Like other fishes, Strawberry peacock cichlid can also get infected by disease or parasites.
Disease
| Swim bladder | This disease can occur when strawberry peacock cichlid floats on top of the tank. |
| Malawi boat | If your fish is infected with Malawi boat it will stop eating. Another symptom is it will spend most of its time at the bottom of the tank |
| Tuberculosis | This is a very dangerous disease because it is contagious and the worst part is it can also pass to humans if you have an open wound. Strawberry peacock cichlid will have frayed fins, lowered stomach, and it will also have white blotches on its body. |
Cure
| Disease | Cure |
| Swim bladder | Disinfect the tank which has infected fish and consult a vet as soon as possible. |
| Malawi boat | For curing this disease add 50gm of Metronidazole per gallon of water |
| Tuberculosis | Disinfect the tank which has infected fishes and consult a vet as soon as possible. |
Tank requirements
To imitate the natural habitat of strawberry peacock cichlid, you must have freshwater in the aquarium since they are freshwater fishes.
The water temperature should be 74–82°F or 23–28°C
You should have a sandy substrate in the tank since strawberry peacock cichlids are bottom dwellers. Add plenty of plants in the tank with hiding caves and driftwood so your fish can hide in them when they feel unsafe. You must add deep-rooted plants in the tank like hornwort, java moss, or anchors.
The pH of the water should be 7.5–8.5. Water hardness should be 4–6 dH and 10–15 dKH.
Strawberry peacock cichlids are active swimmers so they need plenty of space in the tank to swim freely and happily. They require a large aquarium of at least 55 gallons.
Elements that are necessary for their tank
- Sandy substrate: since they are bottom dwellers
- Rocky scape: because they are territorial so they need many hiding spots
- Plants: to imitate their natural habitat
- Filtration system: to avoid murky water and to keep the water clean at all times.
Points to be noted
- Add sand on the bottom of the tank instead of gravel since strawberry peacock cichlids are bottom dwellers and sandy substrate is safe for them.
- Make sure to set the accurate pH and temperature of the tank.
- You must have a large tank so strawberry peacock cichlid can have their own space and they won’t get territorial.
Best tank mates for strawberry Peacock Cichlid
You should add nonaggressive fishes with strawberry peacock cichlids and those fishes which have the same environment as strawberry peacock cichlids. Also, make sure to add more females than males in the tank as the males can get more aggressive.
Some of the best tank mates for strawberry peacock cichlid are
- Pleos
- Placidochromis
- Synodontis catfish
- Nyassachromis
- Sciaenochromis
- Rainbow shark
- Copadichromis
- Dragon blood peacock cichlid
- Blue peacock cichlid
- Red peacock cichlid
- Angelfish
- Clown loaches
Diet of strawberry peacock cichlid
Strawberry peacock cichlid is an omnivorous fish and they find food looking through the sand. Also, they are bottom dwellers so choose sinking food for them. You can also feed them with vegetables like boiled broccoli or boiled corn etc
When strawberry peacock cichlids are in the wild, they feed on insects, larvae, crustaceans, and zooplankton.
How often you should feed them?
You must feed them several times a day in tiny quantities. Try to keep their diet natural and rich in fiber.
Breeding
The most important thing you must take care of is territorial aggression. Males are quite aggressive when it comes to territory so make sure they are not close to other male fishes during the process of breeding.
To start the process of breeding, you must turn up the temperature of the tank to 82°F. When the water is warm, the male strawberry peacock cichlid will perform darting movements to show their interest in the female.
When female strawberry peacock cichlid lays eggs, then the male will fertilize it. After this, the female fish will carry the fertilized eggs in her mouth and will continue carrying them for a month until the baby fry is born. This is the complete process of breeding of Strawberry peacock cichlid.
Points to be noted
- Female strawberry peacock cichlids are mouth brooders
- Make the temperature of the tank warmer up to 82°F.
- The best option is to put one male strawberry peacock cichlid in an aquarium to keep the aggression level low.
Strawberry Cichlid as a pet?
They are definitely a great addition to your tank. They have a mesmerizing beautiful color and they are active swimmers. But if you are a beginner fish keeper I won’t suggest you keep them as your pet as they are semi-aggressive.
But if you have the experience and you know how to take care of strawberry peacock cichlids then they are definitely good pets.
Faqs
What kind of cichlid is a strawberry peacock?
The strawberry peacock cichlid is a part of Genus Aulonocara. They are known for their beautiful and bright color. They are mouthbrooders.
What do strawberry peacock cichlids eat?
They are omnivorous and they like to eat insects, larvae, and crustaceans.
Is strawberry peacock cichlid rare?
No, they are not rare but yeah it’s slightly difficult to find them as compared to other cichlids.
Are pink cichlids schooling fish?
Basically, when strawberry peacock cichlids are young, they often gather in big groups at the bottom of the tank. But they will start separating into more compact groups as they grow up. But they will gather when they notice someone watching them or attacking them.
Conclusion
Strawberry peacock cichlids are hardy fish so they are quite good pets. If you feed them in the right portions and keep accurate water parameters then you are good to go.
As I mentioned above also they are not really ideal for beginners because of their semi-aggressive nature.
But otherwise, they serve as good pets and can be a great addition to your tank. Just make sure they have plenty of space to swim around in your tank.
