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Cichlids
/ South America / Peacock Bass
Peacock Bass, Tucunarč, Lukanani
Cichla sp. affin ocellaris | Pictures
Synonyms: Acharnes
speciosus, Cichla argus, C. atabapensis, Crenicichla orinocensis, Cychla argus, C. trifasciata
Physical description: A cichlid with a sloping forehead and an elongated body.
The back is silver-gray and marked with
three, broad transverse stripes.
The lower parts are yellow to gold, with a region marked with black splotches.
Just
below the yellow area is an orange-red region, which also parallels the white belly.
The mouth is very large and faces towards
the surface.
The pelvic, anal, and caudal fins are orange-red, and the dorsal fin is black.
An obvious, black eye-spot can be found
on the caudal fin near the caudal penuncle.
Size/Length: To 36" (91 cm) in nature, although rarely larger than 24" (61 cm) in aquaria.
Similar species: Cichla
intermedia (Orinoco river in Venezuela),
Cichla monoculus (Peruvian Amazon),
Cichla orinocensis
(Orinoco River in Venezuela),
Cichla temensis.
Habitat: Found in large rivers and lakes in the Guyanas, Venezuela, and Brazil.
This
fish inhabits the following river systems: Lower Amazon, Lower Orinoco, Tocantins, and Xingu.
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: This species is not recommended for private aquaria.
Fish over 12" (30 cm) in length
should be kept in a 72" (183 cm) tank with a capacity of 125 gallons (472 L), although a 96" (244 cm) or 220
gallon (832 L) is preferable.
Use large rocks and large, robust plants in the background to serve as hiding places.
Cover
the tank well-as this fish may take to the air when frightened.
The filter should be able to handle the copious
amounts of waste produced by this species.
Water chemistry: pH 5.5-8 (7.1), 2-20 dH (8), 73-82°F (23-28°C)
Social behavior: A large, predatory cichlid that is territorial towards others, especially of its own
species.
The Peacock Bass should only be kept with other large, robust fish.
This fish is best kept in a species
tank.
This species will not damage plants.
Pairs form nuclear families.
Suggested companions: Arawana, larger Cichlasomines,
Crenicichla, larger Pimelodids and Loricarids,
Pacus, Piranha.
FOOD: Live; fish, earthworms,
Tubifex; chopped meat; tablets.
SEX: Males develop a hump when mature.
Breeding techniques: No reports of successful spawns in aquaria.
In nature, as many as 10,000 eggs are
laid in circular nest that are dug in the muddy shallows during the rainy season.
The parents are excellent, caring for
the young for four weeks, at which time they are 2" (5 cm), and the female is chased off by the male.
Breeding potential: 10.
This fish has not been spawned in captivity.
Remarks: Due to some recent reclassification of the various populations of
C. ocellaris, there are now four separate
species.
Since imports come from all over, it is difficult to conclude which species one may have.
This
fish is not an aquarium fish, and never should have been considered one. This large cichlid is not particular about
water value, although it is sensitive to ammonia and nitrites.
The Peacock Bass is a messy eater who quickly
pollutes the tank.
Thus it is important to use strong filtration and make frequent partial water changes.
The
eye-spot on the caudal fin is believed to confuse piscivorous piranhas which try to nip at the tail fin.
This
popular angling species is said to be one of the strongest fighters around.
The Peacock Bass is raised in ponds
as a food fish.
Difficulty of care: 8.
This large fish, requiring a huge tank and live foods, is not an aquarium species.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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