Fairy Cichlid

Aulonocara jacobfreibergi is an elegant peacock cichlid known in the hobby as the "fairy cichlid". The dorsal, anal and pelvic fins of the males end long and pointed; depending on the form, their color ranges from a blue head with a yellow-orange body to deep blue. The much-loved red form called "Eureka Red" is a cultivated line selectively bred in the aquarium.

Like other Aulonocara species, it detects the movement of small animals in the sand with the large sensory pits on its head. It is a calm fish compared to the mbuna; in the same aquarium as aggressive species it loses its colors.

• Wild forms: Sold under the name of their collection site; a blue head and yellow-orange body is the most common look.
• Eureka Red: A cultivated line with a red-orange body and a blue head.

In Lake Malawi it lives where rocky areas meet sand, especially inside caves and large rock crevices. It hunts insect larvae and small crustaceans hiding in the sand on the floor of the caves. It has local forms in different parts of the lake that differ from each other in color.

• Volume: At least 300 liters and 120–150 cm of length.
• Layout: A fine sand substrate and rock groups at the edges that form caves the fish can enter.
• Water: Hard and alkaline (pH 7.8–8.5); aragonite substrate or Malawi salt.
• Light: Moderate light and shaded caves help timid individuals relax.

Carnivorous. Quality sinking cichlid granules should be the staple, varied with frozen mysis, brine shrimp and cyclops. Bloodworms and foods containing mammalian meat can lead to Malawi bloat.

Males claim the area around a cave and display to other males with their long fins. It is generally calm toward other species. Aggressive mbuna may target its long fins.

Good companions: males of other Aulonocara species (in different colors), Copadichromis borleyi, Placidochromis electra, red empress, synodontis catfish suited to hard water.

Avoid: aggressive mbuna, large predatory haplochromines, community fish, shrimp and snails.

• Harem: 1 male and 3–4 females; for those who want to breed them.
• All-male aquarium: In aquariums set up with Aulonocara males of different colors, the males show their full colors all the time.
• Aulonocara species hybridize with each other easily; only one species and one form should be kept in a harem aquarium.

A mouthbrooder that spawns inside caves in the wild. The male calls the female into his cave; the female takes the eggs into her mouth and they are fertilized via the egg spots on the male's anal fin. The female carries 15–40 eggs for about 3–4 weeks. The fry grow on crushed food and brine shrimp.

• Malawi bloat: Wrong food and stress.
• Fin injuries: The long fins are a target for aggressive tankmates.
• Color loss: A sign of unsuitable tankmates or poor water conditions.

Telling them apart is easy in mature fish: males are blue and yellow-orange, with long, pointed dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. Females are brown-gray with dark vertical bands and short fins. Juveniles look like females; males color up at 6–12 months.