The Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid (Aulonocara jacobfreibergi) is a freshwater fish in the Cichlidae family of cichlids. It is also known as the Freiberg’s Cichlid or the Fairy Cichlid.  

The Eureka Red Peacock Cichlid is greenish-to-yellowish-grey with a red-orange head and a yellow tail. There is also a yellow variant.

It grows to about 15 centimetres (6 inches) in length. 

It is found in Africa in the north-western coast of Lake Malawi in Malawi and Zambia. It prefers shallow water, mostly staying close to the river bed, but sometimes swimming near the surface. It likes sandy and rocky shorelines. 

It is herbivorous. It eats algae, mostly from underwater logs and tree roots. It uses its sharp teeth to remove algae from the wood. 

It is often found in groups of 3-10 individuals, called schools. 

It is an ovophile mouthbrooder. The female hatches about 50 eggs in her buchal pouch in her mouth, and when the eggs hatch into young, called fry, she protects them by keeping them in her mouth. She doesn’t eat them. She holds her young in her mouth for about 21 days. After 21 days, she spits out her young. They become independent and have to look after themselves. 

The lifespan of the Eureka Yellow Peacock Cichlidis 8-10 years.

Location of photograph: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM