Photo: Lerdsuwa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aulonocara steveni
10 cm
Adult size
300 L
Minimum volume
4
Minimum group
7 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Aulonocara
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- small group
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1987 by Manfred Meyer, Rüdiger Riehl and Holger Zetzsche, Aulonocara steveni is a Lake Malawi “peacock” of about 9 cm without the tail; the male is blue, often tinged with orange on the flanks.
Its status is debated: some authors place it under A. stuartgranti, a very variable species. Many forms sold under this name are aquarium varieties or hybrids.
- Scientific name
- Aulonocara steveni Meyer, Riehl & Zetzsche, 1987
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Not evaluated (NE)
Natural habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi, near Kande Island (Malawi)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It is known from around Kande Island, on the Malawian coast of the lake.
It lives among sediment-covered rocks at the edge of sandy areas, in warm, hard, alkaline water.
Behaviour
Fairly peaceful, it behaves like other Aulonocara: one male for several females, no other Aulonocara in the tank to avoid hybrids, and calm companions rather than mbuna.
It feeds on soft-bodied invertebrates it finds in the sediment. A mouthbrooder, the female keeps eggs and fry in her mouth.