Aulonocara Chizumulu

About

Found only at Chisumulu Island in Lake Malawi, Aulonocara korneliae is one of the more localized peacock cichlids in the hobby, which makes it a genuinely interesting find for keepers who like their fish with a story attached. In the wild, this species lives right along the boundary where rocky shoreline meets sandy bottom. It shelters and holds territory among the rocks but ventures out over the sand to hunt, using the sensory pores typical of Aulonocara to detect the invertebrates buried beneath the surface. That sand-foraging behavior is worth keeping in mind when setting up a tank, as a sandy substrate will encourage the most natural activity. Like other peacock cichlids from Malawi, it appreciates hard, alkaline water and a tank arranged with plenty of rocky structure. Males display the richer coloration typical of the genus, while females are considerably plainer. Temperament sits somewhere in the middle of the cichlid spectrum. Not outright aggressive, but territorial enough that tank mates and group composition need some thought. A species for keepers who already have a handle on Rift Lake setups rather than a first cichlid, but rewarding once the conditions are dialed in.