Firebird Cichlid - Aulonocara hansbaenschi
Synonym: Aulonocara hansbaenschi
Common name: Firebird Cichlid; Peacock
Family: Cichlidae
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Maximum size: 13 cm / 5 inches
Environment: freshwater
Origin: Endemic to Lake Malawi, Africa
Temperament: Peaceful
Company: Aulonocara hansbaenschi (Firebird Cichlid is best kept with other peaceful Malawi cichlids.
Water parameters: Temperature 23-27°C / 73-81°F; pH 7.5 – 8.5
Aquarium setup: Aulonocara hansbaenschi (Firebird Cichlid) prefers an aquarium decorated with a lot of stone formations that allows the fish good hiding places. Decorate the Aquarium tank so that several territories can be formed with natural boundaries. Leave some areas open for the fishes to swim on. Don’t use roots in your aquarium since they lower PH levels.
Feeding: Aulonocara hansbaenschi (Firebird Cichlid) accepts most food iincluding pellets.
Breeding: Aulonocara hansbaenschi (Firebird Cichlid) are mouth brooders, the eggs are laid on a rock and then taken into the female's mouth. The female will protect the batch of up to 25 fry in her mouth for up to 4 weeks and will not eat during this time. You can tell when a female is brooding by her enlarged mouth. Aulonocara hansbaenschi (Firebird Cichlid) fry will accepts most kinds of food. Brooding females should be isolated for more productive breeding. It is recommendable to try to make the isolation period as short as possible to avoid that the females loses their social status within the group. Stress to the female can cause her to eat her eggs and fry.
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