Auditor Peacock Cichlid

About

Found only in the northern reaches of Lake Malawi near the villages of Vua and Ngara, Aulonocara auditor is one of the more range-restricted members of the peacock cichlid group. That narrow distribution makes it a genuine collector's fish, and one that relatively few hobbyists have kept compared to the more widely distributed Aulonocara species that dominate the trade. Like its relatives, it hunts by hovering just above sandy substrate and using the sensory pores along its head to detect the tiny invertebrates moving beneath the surface. Then striking downward to sift prey from the sand. That hunting behavior is worth watching for on its own. In the aquarium, a sandy bottom is worth providing both for the fish's comfort and to let you observe this natural foraging style. Males develop the bright coloration typical of the peacock group, while females stay in the more subdued brownish pattern shared by most Aulonocara. This is a cichlid best kept by someone already familiar with Malawi setups. Hard, alkaline water and a well-managed social structure with one male to multiple females are the keys to keeping aggression in check and getting the best color out of the male.