Here’s a comprehensive guide to the Dragonblood Red Peacock Cichlid — a striking and selectively bred African cichlid known for its vivid red-pink coloration and manageable temperament.

🐟 Dragonblood Red Peacock Cichlid Overview

• Scientific Name: Aulonocara species (selective hybrid, not found in the wild)

• Common Names: Dragonblood Peacock, Dragon Blood Cichlid, Red Peacock Cichlid

• Family: Cichlidae

• Origin: Lake Malawi (native Aulonocara species); Dragonblood is a hybridized variant developed in the aquarium trade

📏 Physical Characteristics

• Size: 4–6 inches (10–15 cm)

• Lifespan: 5–8 years

• Coloration:

  • Intense red-pink to orange body, sometimes with iridescent spots or faint barring

  • Males are more vibrant; females are often duller or tan-gray

• Sexual Dimorphism:

  • Males: Brighter color, longer and more pointed fins

  • Females: Smaller, less colorful, rounded fins

🔥 Temperament and Behavior

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive

• Tank Level: Mid to bottom

• Social Behavior:

  • Males are territorial, especially during breeding

  • Less aggressive than Mbuna, more peaceful than Haps

  • Best kept in a male-dominated tank to highlight color and minimize aggression

🐠 Tank Requirements

🍽️ Diet

• Type: Omnivore with carnivorous preferences

• Preferred Foods:

  • High-quality cichlid pellets (color-enhancing varieties)

  • Frozen/live: brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, bloodworms (occasionally)

  • Occasional spirulina or vegetable flakes for digestive health

• Feeding Tip: Feed small portions 1–2 times daily to avoid bloating or fouling water

🐣 Breeding

• Spawning Type: Mouthbrooder (maternal)

• Breeding Behavior:

  • Males create a territory and perform a dance to attract females

  • Females lay eggs, then scoop them into their mouth for fertilization

  • Incubation: ~21–28 days; fry are released fully formed

• Fry Care:

  • After release, fry can be fed crushed flakes or baby brine shrimp

  • Can be raised in a breeder box or separate tank

⚠️ Note: Dragonbloods are hybrids, so fry may have unpredictable colors or traits.

✅ Care Tips

• Maintain stable water parameters — they don’t handle fluctuations well

• Avoid overstocking unless heavily filtered; peacocks produce a lot of waste

• Provide plenty of rockwork for territories and retreats

• Perform weekly water changes (25–40%) to keep nitrates low

🤝 Tankmate Compatibility

Best kept with other peaceful to semi-aggressive African cichlids, especially other peacocks and haps.

Good tankmates:

• Other Aulonocara species (peacocks)

• Haplochromis cichlids

• Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caeruleus)

• Synodontis catfish

• Bristlenose plecos

Avoid:

• Mbuna (generally too aggressive and competitive)

• Aggressive Haps (like Nimbochromis)

• New World cichlids (different water chemistry needs)

• Small or slow fish (risk of aggression)

⚠️ Common Issues

• Aggression: Especially between males or if too few hiding spaces exist

• Bloat: From overfeeding or improper diet — avoid fatty foods

• Color fading: Due to poor water quality, low hierarchy status, or stress

• Misidentification: Hybrid nature means appearance and behavior may vary

🎯 Summary

The Dragonblood Red Peacock Cichlid is a stunning, fiery hybrid suited for African cichlid enthusiasts who want color and personality without extreme aggression. They thrive in well-maintained, alkaline aquariums and look best in male-only displays or carefully selected community setups.

IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.