Credits: Blue Grass Aquatics (Creative Commons license)
There are at least 22 variations of peacock cichlids. And all of them are equally mesmerizing to look at. In this blog, we will discuss how big do peacock cichlids get, their growth rate, and their basic tank requirements.
So, let’s dive right into the topics!
How Big Do Peacock Cichlids Get?
On average, a male peacock cichlid will get around 6 inches (15 cm) long. The females are a tad bit smaller and will max out at around 4 inches (10 cm). While genetics is the most decisive factor, things like the environment and diet also play crucial roles in determining how big your peacock cichlid will get.
How Big Do Sunshine Peacock Cichlids Get?
Sunshine peacock cichlids are among the smaller varieties of the Auloncara stuartgranti species. The maximum length it can reach is 5 inches (13 cm). Once again, the males are slightly bigger than their female counterparts.
How Big Do Blue Peacock Cichlids Get?
Blue peacock cichlids are the standard version of a peacock cichlid. The males usually clock in at 6 inches (15 cm), whereas females will only grow around 4 inches (10cm). But don’t go by the size. These are super active fish and require a large tank.
How Big Do African Butterfly Peacock Cichlids Get?
African butterfly peacock cichlids are among the largest peacock varieties that exist. And their size varies a fair bit depending on where they come from. They can grow from 4-6 inches (10-15cm) to 8-9 inches (20-23cm).
How Big Do Malawi Peacock Cichlids Get?
Malawi peacock cichlids aren’t huge species. The males usually get around 6 inches (15cm) long. On the other hand, females are comparatively smaller – reaching around 4 inches (10 cm).
However, since these fish are super active and love to swim around, they need a sizable tank with ample space to swim.
How Big Do Nkhomo Benga Peacock Cichlids Get?
On average, nkhomo benga peacock cichlids reach an average length of 4-5 inches (10-13 inches). However, males can sometimes grow up to 6 inches (15cm) long.
How Big Do Flavescent Peacocks Get?
A flavescent peacock’s cichlid size largely depends on what part of Lake Malawi they come from. But on average, they can grow anywhere between 4.5-7.5 inches (11-19 cm) long. Once again, the females are comparatively smaller.
How Big Do Yellow Regal Peacocks Get?
Yellow regal peacocks are medium-bodied fish reaching around 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) long. However, they are generally smaller in an aquarium. These regal looking peacocks are among the most peaceful cichlids hailing from Lake Malawi.
How Big Do Ruby Red Peacocks Get?
Ruby red peacocks reach a maximum size of 6 inches (15cm). Females are tinier than males and will clock in around 4-5 inches (10-13 inches). These fish boast brilliant red scales with blue sheen underneath.
How Big Do Sulphurhead Peacocks Get?
Sulphurhead peacocks are relatively smaller compared to other peacock varieties. They grow only around 3-4 inches long (7-10cm).
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How Fast Do Peacock Cichlids Grow?
Peacock cichlids take anywhere between 2-3 years to reach their true size potential. They grow pretty substantially as juveniles before plateauing at around 2-3 years of age.
Factors like the environment, diet, and parentage also play pivotal roles in determining the rate at which your fish will grow.
Before you leave, here are a few tips on how to encourage the healthy growth of your peacock cichlids.
How To Grow Peacock Cichlids Fast?
Don’t get us wrong – there’s no shortcut for this. The best you can do is feed a quality diet, offer plenty of opportunities to exercise, and keep the water parameters optimum to encourage healthy growth.
Let’s have a brief look at these parameters.
Spacious Tank With Exercise Opportunities
A spacious tank doesn’t automatically help your fish grow, but a small and cramped tank will definitely stunt the fish’s growth. Many people think smaller tanks are easier to maintain, but that couldn’t be any farther from the truth.
For starters, over-cramped tanks translate to stressed fish. And naturally, stressed fish do not grow to their full-size potential. Second, small tanks are more temperamental – toxic buildups happen a lot faster – exposing your fish to all kinds of ailments.
And lastly, your fish won’t get enough opportunities to swim around freely and exercise, which are essential to ensure healthy growth. So, naturally, low activity levels mean not-so-healthy fish.
Nutritious And Well-Rounded Diet
Depriving fish of a healthy and well-rounded diet is the sure-fire way of stunting their growth, Zero in on a quality pellets/flakes brand for staple diet, and occasionally fortify their diet with nutritious treats like bloodworms and blanched veggies.
Peacock cichlids are omnivores. So, you can feed both veggie and meaty meals. Just make sure to strike a balance. Also, don’t get carried away and feed too much.
Cichlids tend to beg for food even when they’re full. This won’t just make your tank dirty but also cause them to be obese in the long run.
If you’re interested to know some more about the dos and don’ts of feeding cichlids, this is the article for you.
Clean and Healthy Water Environment
We cannot overstate this fact. Maintaining a clean and healthy water environment goes a long way in keeping your peacock cichlids healthy and happy.
First, the chances of your cichlids getting sick and diseased is drastically cut. Second, do you know cichlids secrete hormones into the water to inhibit the growth of their competitors?
Thus, performing regular water changes will help to get rid of the hormones and stimulate healthy growth.
Adult fish release comparatively more hormones into the water than juveniles. That’s why I prefer raising my juveniles in a separate tank.
Keep Your Fish Healthy And Happy
Healthy and happy fish means enhanced growth and development. Thus, as a fish parent, you need to commit to giving your fish a healthy and happy environment – and naturally, your fish will thrive.
For instance, if the water quality is always poor, it will expose your fish to several diseases that can stunt its growth as a side effect. Likewise, if your fish is constantly being bullied and harassed by its tank mates, the stress will, of course, hinder its development.
So, don’t forget to be mindful about the well-being of your fish!
Final Words: How Big Do Peacock Cichlids Get?
There are at least 22 different peacock cichlids varieties known to men. The size varies depending on the subspecies and what part of the lake they come from. But on average, they grow around 6 inches (15 cm) long. The females are a couple of inches smaller than males.
In the tank, factors like the right diet and environment play a pivotal role in determining how fast and how long your peacock cichlids will grow.
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