Sulphurhead peacock

Care at a glance

The sulphurhead is named for the sulphur-yellow band that runs from its forehead along the dorsal fin, standing out sharply against an otherwise dark grey to black body with a blue-sheened face. It comes from the intermediate zone of Lake Malawi, where rock gives way to open sand.

Like other Aulonocara it hunts hovering just above the bottom, using sensory pits in its head to feel small invertebrates buried in the sand. Give it fine sand and plenty of open space, keep one male with several females in hard, alkaline water, and do not house it with other peacocks, as they hybridise readily.

Good to know

• Territorial
• Digger — needs fine sand

Best not combined with

• Neon tetraParacheirodon innesi
• GuppyPoecilia reticulata
• BettaBetta splendens

Related species

• Benga peacock (sunshine)Aulonocara baenschi
• Stuart Grant’s peacock cichlidAulonocara stuartgranti
• Fairy cichlid (brichardi)Neolamprologus brichardi
• Peacock cichlid (other Aulonocara)Aulonocara sp.
• Acei cichlid (yellowtail acei)Pseudotropheus acei
• Shell dweller (multi)Neolamprologus multifasciatus