How to Breed Peacock Fish

Peacock cichlids are known to be non-aggressive and easy to care for. Native to Lake Malawai, these African cichlids are relatively low maintenance which make them popular with beginners and experienced owners alike. More than one tank is necessary to properly and successfully breed peacock cichlids so plan accordingly. You should have one main tank, one raising tank and one rearing tank, at least. Females can produce between 12 to 50 eggs and adults typically reach 5 inches in size.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 breeding tank with heater and filter (45+ gallons)
  • 1 raising tank with heater and filter (10+ gallons)
  • 1 rearing tank with heater and filter (25+ gallons)
  • Sand substrate
  • Variety of plants, rocks and caves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Equip your main breeding tank with sand substrate and plenty of rocks and caves for the fish to hide in. Make sure the water temperature is between 78 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit and the pH is 7.5 to 8.0.

    • 2

      Watch your breeding group closely - ideally one male for every three to five females. Courting males dig a shallow nest in the sand and lure in females with flashy colors and movements. The female then drops her eggs into the nest and the male fertilizes them. For the next few weeks the female will hold the eggs in her mouth - prepare hiding places during the holding stage so the female remains stress free.

    • 3

      Prepare the raising tank with aquatic plants and place a sponge over the filter intake tube - this prevents the fry from being sucked up through the filter. Stabilize the water temperature.

    • 4

      Transfer the brooding female from the breeding tank to the raising tank roughly two to three weeks into the holding stage. Wait for the female to release the fry from her mouth - allow her two to four days to recuperate before placing her back into the main tank. Leave the fry alone in the raising tank.

    • 5

      Feed the fry a steady diet of finely crushed flakes and liquid fry food. Keep them in the raising tank until they become roughly 1 inch long.

    • 6

      Transfer the fry into the rearing tank. The peacock cichlids are ready to sell or mix with other non-aggressive cichlids after four months.