Aulonocara sp. "Stuartgranti Maleri" (Maleri Island)


Male


Male


Male


Female



© Copyright Kory D. Watkins / USAfishbox.com





I bet many of you have herd someone say that they have a Sunshine Peacock. Most are probably correct. However I would also bet that some of the time they in fact have been misguided. There are a few different species of Peacocks that are referred to as the “sunshine Peacock.” There are many beautiful Aulonocara Species from Lake Malawi but the true Sunshine Peacock is eye candy.

The Aulonocara sp. "Stuartgranti Maleri" (Maleri Island) is a very eye catching Peacock from Lake Malawi in Africa. While growing up males and females are pretty much all identical and can not be told apart. If you have several different breeding species of Peacock it is a must to separate the fry. At around 2-3 inches the males will start to mature and color will start to appear. Females will always retain the same dull color with faded vertical lines. Once the males are fully grown they will display a bright blue and yellow color that will make you gape for days.

At present, the species is included in the A. stuartgranti complex by virtue of its similar behavior and shape. It is separated from others in the complex as it appears to form an isolated population in the lake, suggesting it is a distinct species. There are several geographical variants available, as well as a couple of man-made forms that exhibit a deep orange/red colorations. It should be noted that neither these, nor any other species or morph of Aulonocara should be mixed in the aquarium. Females of the various species are almost identical and they may create hybrid fish. Please make sure you are certain which ones you have.

The "Stuartgranti Maleri" has not yet been described to science but is everywhere in the hobby. The appearance in color and pattern is very close to an Aul. Baenschi. It is very often referred to as a Sunshine Peacock or Yellow Peacock. If you compare the snouts of the two they can be told apart. In baenschi the profile of the snout continues in a convex curve over the eye. In sp. "Stuartgranti maleri" this line is much straighter. Knowing this is very important. You do not want to get two different species and think you have the same thing. You could come out with hybrids which is fround upon in the hobby.

Konings (1995c: 198) provides the following behavioral notes in the wild:
All forms of the Stuartgranti group behave in a similar manner. They are rather common in the intermediate habitat where females and juveniles are found in small groups (or singly) feeding from the sandy patches between the rocks. They are most numerous on gently sloping coasts where many rocks lie scattered on the sandy floor. Males excavate nests between rocks and territories are marked with a shallow rim of sand at the entrance of the spawning-cave. Digging is rarely observed in Aulonocara, although males of several species have tunnel-nests between stones.

I myself have a group of "Stuartgranti Maleri" that consists of two males and eight females. The group is in a standard 55 gallon aquarium with a group of Cynotilapia Axelrod Nkhata Bay. It has two sponge filters rated for 40G each. For my substrate I use pool filter sand that you can get at the home depot for as little as six bucks for 50 LB’s. In addition to the pool filter sand I also use some breeding caves and a few pieces of Texas Holey Rock. The breeding is non stop and the temperate level is very calm. Out of the 20 plus aquariums that I manage this is by far my favorite one.

If you are into Cichlids and wanting to try something with a striking yellow and blue color you might want to look at getting an Aulonocara sp. "Stuartgranti Maleri" (Maleri Island) Peacock. When doing so remember to go to a reliable and knowledge source when shopping for this species or any species of Peacock. I recommend Dave’s Rare Aquarium Fish. Great selection and the species are always pure. There are a handful of Peacocks that are similar to others so we as hobbyist must make sure we are getting the correct one’s that way there is not crossing of species.

After reading this short article I hope you have learned and few things about the Maleri Island Peacock and how it differs from the other close species of Peacocks. Finally please remember to get you Peacocks or any species of fish from a good reliable source!


© Copyright Kory D. Watkins / USAfishbox.com



Ad konings (1995c: 198)

Fishandtips.com
USAfishbox.com

cool! i just got a pair of those!!, nice find Kory..

when you say hybridizing is frowned upon.dont you mean by CERTAIN people its frowned upon?seems to me like the most popular fish are hybrids-flowerhorns,firefish,who knows what else out there is a hybrid? this fish would not exist if its parents didnt crossbreed.sunburst x ?

mmm i didnt get you point, are you saying that fish above is hybrid??

my point is-that fish I posted is a hybrid,very beautiful,very cool fish.people love sunburst/firefish,a hybrid.Same goes for flowerhorns which are extremely popular around the world.You may not know what it is but someone does.Why does that matter anyway?Some of my best fish are hybrids.

Hybrids Should not be introduced into the Hobby as far as i am concerned as most are breeding to preserve the species. and Hybrids cause problems. Make the blood line weak. Just my 2Cents. Hybrids=

I agree... why play god just for a fish thats eye candy?-Keelo
arent we playin god anyway,just by keepin fish?
I doubt they'll ever end up back in the lake. mostly these fish are just "eye candy "anyway-who'goin to buy ugly fish?
What sucks is when you buy a fish that turns out to not be what you thought.All my hybrids are sold as hybrids.I dont think mixing makes the blood weak-what you mean is it could weaken the color if not bred correctly.Of course you guys know a lot of them are related already.How many aquarium strains are actually hybrids?BTW-hybrids are still fish so if you dont like fish,

... put a bunch of fish in one aquarium and let see what happend maybe some show up and have some value for some people thats so simple but no right easy way to keep fish ....

the name of the game is in some ways no that easy keep water parameters aquascape decoration live plants filtration ilumination etc for the best of the fish on the aquarium with no genetic intromision at all

line breed dont involve any genetic intromision just breed the fish show some charateristic you like with out add any other genes species etc

BTW persons without ethic can make mistakes but still persons

thats only my personal opinion