Sulfur Head Peacock

The Sulfur Head Peacock (Aulonocara maylandi), also known as the Sulfur Crest Peacock, is a highly popular, mouthbrooding African cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi. In the wild, its entire population is restricted to just two small reef systems—West Reef and Eccles Reef—rendering it a Critically Endangered species on the IUCN Red List. Consequently, responsible captive breeding in the aquarium hobby is vital for its preservation.

Visual Characteristics & Identification

The "Sulfur" Blaze: Sexually mature males feature a striking, metallic blue-to-black compressed body sharply contrasted by a vibrant yellow stripe (or "blaze") running from the tip of the snout, over the head, and along the edge of the dorsal fin.
Sexual Dimorphism: Females and juveniles remain a much more subdued, uniform silvery-gray or pale brown.
Size: Adult males typically grow to 4–6 inches (12–15 cm), while females stay slightly smaller at around 3–4 inches.
Diet & Feeding

They are omnivores that lean heavily toward micro-predation in nature. In captivity, you should feed them high-quality cichlid pellets or flakes mixed with frozen foods like brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and krill. Avoid feeding overly fatty or mammal-protein-heavy foods to prevent a digestive disease known as "Malawi Bloat".

Temperament & Tank Mates

Compared to other African cichlids, the Sulfur Head Peacock is relatively peaceful but territorial. Males will display mild aggression toward other males of their own kind (conspecifics) or fish with a similar color pattern.
- Good Tank Mates: Keep them with other peaceful Peacock cichlids or similarly sized, mild-mannered Haps (Haplochromines).
- Fish to Avoid: Strictly avoid aggressive Mbuna cichlids. Mbunas are too boisterous and dominant, which will cause the Sulfur Head to lose its stunning coloration, hide constantly, and become stressed.
- Harem Ratio: If you plan to breed or keep them communally, it is highly recommended to keep a ratio of one male to multiple females to distribute breeding aggression.

Sensory Pores: Like other Aulonocara species, they possess unique acoustic-lateralis sensory pores on their jaws. This allows them to remain perfectly still over sandy areas and "listen" for the movements of tiny, buried invertebrates before striking.

Tank Care & Husbandry Guidelines

The Sulfur Head Peacock is considered an intermediate-care fish due to its rigid water parameter requirements and its sensitive nature relative to more aggressive African cichlids.

Parameter/Requirement	Ideal Specification
Minimum Tank Size	55 gallons (200+ Liters) / At least 4 feet long
Water Temperature	75°F to 82°F (24°C to 28°C)
pH Range	7.8 to 8.6 (Alkaline)
Water Hardness	Hard water (10–20 dGH)
Substrate	Fine sand is mandatory so they can sift and hunt without damaging their sensory organs or stressing out.
Aquascaping	Provide open swimming areas over sand, backed by sturdy rockwork/caves to establish boundaries.

Specification	Value
Size	3"

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