Fish Data : Aulonocara Blue Gold Cichlid

Aulonocara Blue Gold Cichlid

     These cichlid is a relatively small sized Peacock cichlid, reaching only about 4 1/3 inches (11 cm) in length. This cichlid is a member of theAulonocara genus, a very small group of fish from Lake Malawi, Africa known as the Peacock Cichlids. This genus contains only about 23 species, but has many subspecies, and they very popular with aquarists. The brilliant color patterns in blues, reds and yellows give this group the well deserved name of "Peacock cichlids".

     The fascination and appeal of this fish is its rich coloration. In its nominate form it has a gorgeous sparkling blue head and a body with black and blue vertical bars accented with beautifully fins of blue and gold. There is also a variety that has an orangish cast to the shoulder, which is called the Orange Shoulder Peacock or the Aulonocara Blue Gold Roberti. Some other common names this species is known by include Aulonocara Chizumulu, Korneliae Blue Gold, Aulonocara Korneliae Chizumulu, and Blue Gold Aulonocara.

     This species of peacock cichlid is very similar to the "Red Shoulder Peacock"  also called the Aulonocara Fort Maguire Peacock Aulonocara hansbaenschi. These two are closely related and because the color patterning ofAulonocara hansbaensch can be  extremely variable, these two can often look very much the same. This can create confusion when selecting them for the aquarium, so besides knowing the common names of these fish it helps to know the scientific names as well.

     The Aulonocara, along with the Utaka Cichlids Copadichromis and other non-Mbuna's, are members of the Haplochromis group. Haplochromis is the type genus of free-roaming browsers sometimes call "haps" or "happies". They live in more sandy areas and open waters, and are generally larger cichlids than their Mbuna "rock-dwelling" counterparts. They also are more peaceful cichlids and should not be housed with the highly active and aggressive Mbunas.

Quick Stat :

·                            Temperament: Semi-aggressive

·                            Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy

·                            Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner

·                            Diet Type: Carnivore

·                            Minimum Tank Size: 55 gal (208 L)

·                            Temperature: 74.0 to 81.0° F (23.3 to 27.2° C)

·                            Range ph: 7.5-8.6

·                            Hardness Range: 10 - 25 dGH

Size of fish - inches: 4.3 inches (11.00 cm)

Lifespan: 8 years - They have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years with proper care.

    These fish is a great choice for the beginning cichlid keeper, and are appealling to the advanced aquarist as well. They are easy to care for, easy to feed, and relatively undemanding aquarium residents. They are also fairly peaceful, making good inhabitants for the community tank, and will readily breed. The aquarium does need regular water changes. They are susceptible to Malawi bloat as well as the typical diseases that effect all freshwater fish if the tank is not maintained.

    In the wild these cichlid live as sand-dwelling invertebrates. In the aquarium provide them with a quality cichlid flake or pellet food as their main staple, and provide meaty supplements. Pelleted, frozen, live, and/or freeze-dried meaty foods such as daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp are excellent choices. Avoid tubifex worms as they contribute to a disease called "Malawi bloat." You can also use shrimp mixes like the European Shrimp Mix, which costs less than other prepared foods and is just as nutritious.

   Feeder can feed them once a day when young and 5 to 6 times a week when adults unless they are breeding. Avoid the desire to feed this fish more often than it needs, as this will keep the water quality higher over a longer time.

• Diet Type: Carnivore - They are primarily carnivorous in nature, mostly seeking out meaty sand-dwelling invertebrates as food.
• Flake Food: Yes
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: Most of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Daily - Juveniles should be fed daily and adults will need about 5 - 6 feedings a week.

Aquarium Care

    These fish are hardy fish, but like all Malawi Cichlids, they will deteriorate under poor water conditions. The Malawi fish are usually kept at a higher pH, which means that ammonia is more lethal, so regular water changes are a must. They are also a messy fish because they eat mostly protein foods, which puts an additional biological load on the filtration system. The tank will need water changes of between 20 - 50% a week, depending on the bio load.

• Water Changes: Weekly - Suggested water changes of 20-50% a week, as these are messy fish producing a heavy bio load.

Aquarium Setup

The streams that flow into Lake Malawi have a high mineral content. This along with evaporation has resulted in alkaline water that is highly mineralized. Lake Malawi is known for its clarity and stability as far as pH and other water chemistries. It is easy to see why it is important to watch tank parameters with all Lake Malawi fish.

Rift lake cichlids need hard alkaline water but are not found in brackish waters. Still salt is sometimes used as a buffering agent to increase the water's carbonate hardness. Forturnately this cichlid has some salt tolerance. It can be kept in slightly brackish water conditions, however it not suited to a full brackish water tank. It can tolerate a low salinity that is about 10% of a normal saltwater tank, which means a specific gravity of less than 1.0002.

A 55 gallon aquarium is okay for these fish, but 75 gallons is suggested. They do fine in either freshwater or slightly brackish freshwater but need good water movement along with very strong and efficient filtration. Gravel makes a good substate and the addition of crushed coral can help keep the pH up. Crushed coral or aragonite sands do tend to dissolves easier than salts. Keeping a higher pH however, means that ammonia is more lethal, so regular water changes are a must for these fish.

Some rock decor is good to create hiding places and areas of retreat, just be sure to leave open spaces along the bottom of the tank as well. These fish need plenty of swimming room on the bottom and in the mid portions of the tank.  They prefer subdued lighting. A nice thing about these guys is they do not damage plants as much as other cichlids, so you can add some to your decor if desired. They prefer subdued lighting.

• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gal (208 L) - A 55 gallon tank is minimum for a single fish, 75 gallons or more is suggested for a group.
• Suitable for Nano Tank: No
• Substrate Type: Any
• Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting - They prefer subdued lighting.
• Temperature: 74.0 to 81.0° F (23.3 to 27.2° C)
• Range ph: 7.5-8.6
• Hardness Range: 10 - 25 dGH
• Brackish: Sometimes - Salt is not found in their natural environment, but they do have a slight tolerance, keep levels below 10% - a specific gravity of less than 1.0002.
• Water Movement: Moderate
• Water Region: Middle - These fish will swim in the bottom and middle areas of the aquarium.

Social Behaviors

The Aulonocara Blue Gold is best kept alone in a smaller 55 gallon tank , or as a group of one male and 4 - 6 females in a larger tank of 75 gallons or more. They are peaceful toward those of the same species as long as it is not two males, unless tank is very large and can support different territories.

This fish is best kept with other medium sized Malawi cichlids that are not overly aggressive. They will tolerate those of a different genus as long as they are peaceful, similarly sized, though different in shape. They will get along with all other Peacock Cichlids of the same genus. Aggressive Mbunas are not good tank mates for this Orange Shoulder Peacock.

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive
• Compatible with:
• Same species - conspecifics: Yes - Can be kept in groups of 1 male with 4-6 females, 2 males will fight.
• Peaceful fish (): Monitor
• Semi-Aggressive (): Monitor
• Aggressive (): Threat
• Large Semi-Aggressive (): Threat
• Large Aggressive, Predatory (): Threat
• Slow Swimmers & Eaters (): Threat
• Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Threat - is aggressive
• Plants: Monitor

Sex: Sexual differences

Males are more colorful with the back part of their dorsal and anal fins being longer and sharper. Females are drabber in color with rounded anal and dorsal fins.

Breeding / Reproduction

The Aulonocara Blue Gold has been bred in captivity. Keep two females with one male for the best breeding success. The male will display an intense coloration to attract the females. All Cichlid parents tend to their young, making them easy to breed. They should have their own breeding tank. A cichlid couple guarding their babies can be a force to reckon with and this aggression is acted out on other tank mates. A 100 gallon tank is suggested.

These cichlids are mouth brooders. This is where the females will lay the eggs and then pick them up in their mouths. After that they pick at the male's anal fin to get him to produce "milt" or sperm. The female will then take this milt into her mouth and the eggs are fertilized at that time. She will carry them in her mouth until the fry are old enough to be able to feed on their own. With other Peacocks this takes around 21 days so it is assumed the same is true for this fish. She will nibble and eat next to nothing during this time. Never house fry from different strains in the same tank, as it will be almost impossible to tell the fry and juveniles apart (until they grow).

Credits :

http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/cichlid/AulonocaraBlueGoldRoberti.php

http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/?id=4850




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