Peacock Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi set up

[mattybecks]

Hi guys,

Just set up a tank dedicated to these guys. I have 2 x males and 9 x females.
I plan to try my hand at breeding them at some point. Currently they are all about 7cm (just under 3 inches).
Each male has established a territory at each end of the aquarium, so everyone seems to be getting along fine for now. They had a scuffle when I first set up the tank but both are pretty dominant and didn't back down and now appear to tolerate each other.


My questions:
- Will keeping two males work? What size aquarium would you recommend if not?
- When should I move them out the current set up (40 gal)? - the tank is over filtered with an internal and external filter and I always use loads of pothos - had to delay my most recent water change (10 days) and my readings were NH4: 0, NO2: 0, NO3: <10.

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

I believe there are enough females and just enough room for two males. You will enjoy the hobby more with a bigger tank. Sooner or later you're going to want other varieties of Peacocks or Haps. Might as well plan your next move into a 90 - 125 gal. Tank.

 

[mattybecks]

I believe there are enough females and just enough room for two males. You will enjoy the hobby more with a bigger tank. Sooner or later you're going to want other varieties of Peacocks or Haps. Might as well plan your next move into a 90 - 125 gal. Tank.

Thanks. I was thinking of making my 130gal an African set up with some yellow labs and these guys. I have Geos in there at the moment, but I really enjoy them too. Maybe I can shift things around and fit yet another tank in my apt haha

 

[Stephen St.Clair]

I forgot to mention, I like your hardscape. The incorporation of driftwood into the rockwork really looks good.

 

[james99]

A 75 would work once they get bigger. Jakes are usually one of the more aggressive peacocks, the 2 males might work, or the dominant male could decide it's time for the weaker male to go. I would do 1 or 3 males, this should take the dominant fish's attention away from one particular male.

 

[mattybecks]

I forgot to mention, I like your hardscape. The incorporation of driftwood into the rockwork really looks good.

Thanks!

 

[mattybecks]

A 75 would work once they get bigger. Jakes are usually one of the more aggressive peacocks, the 2 males might work, or the dominant male could decide it's time for the weaker male to go. I would do 1 or 3 males, this should take the dominant fish's attention away from one particular male.

Ok thanks for the advice... I'll keep an eye on the males closely. I had three but had the remove the one recently as he was picked on and confined to the top corner of the tank above the powerhead.

 

[RD.]

I have always found Jakes to be aggressive, more so as they age. I owned a large brute that as he got up in age killed any/all females in his tank. He sat in his cave, came out to eat, and thrashed anything that made the mistake of entering his lair. I don't think that keeping these two males in a 40 is going to last long, and eventually I would plan on a six foot tank with cave structures at each end, and line of sight breaks in the middle. I would purposely define each males territory for them, just to reduce the chances of one male crossing over to the others side.

 

[mattybecks]

I have always found Jakes to be aggressive, more so as they age. I owned a large brute that as he got up in age killed any/all females in his tank. He sat in his cave, came out to eat, and thrashed anything that made the mistake of entering his lair. I don't think that keeping these two males in a 40 is going to last long, and eventually I would plan on a six foot tank with cave structures at each end, and line of sight breaks in the middle. I would purposely define each males territory for them, just to reduce the chances of one male crossing over to the others side.

If it goes this route then ill have to remove the males and keep an all female tank. Have you had/ know anyone who has had experience with an all female tank? I'm guessing there would be no aggression issues and it would be quite a peaceful tank. 40 gal would be ok then?

 

[james99]

I think the 40 would still be too small for anything more than 3-4 fish, not to mention, females don't really get alot of color.