Aulonocara steveni
Aulonocara blue neon, the blue neon peacock is naturally found in Lake Malawi in Africa. These fish stay in open water near the bottom. They are not attached to rocks, but prefer to stay in their own territory, which they very rarely leave.
Aulonocara steveni are externally bright fish. The body is yellow. The head and fins of males blue. Females are unassuming, gray in color, with a slight sheen of blue or yellow. Sometimes, during stress, the body of fish appear black stripes. The maximum size of fish reaches 15 cm.
Aulonocara steveni is relatively peaceful fish. Interspecific relationships between fish can be violent, especially in terms of internal group hierarchy. However, in an established group conflicts are extremely rare. When keeping fish in the aquarium should adhere to the proportion that 1 male should have 3 females. Blue neon peacocks are not aggressive against other fish species living with them in the same aquarium, but if necessary, can stand up for themselves. For example, they can even dominate larger fish species. Aulonokara blue neon are territorial, they are especially zealous in protecting their territory during the breeding season.
The fish require a large aquarium of 450 liters. Should not be kept in a common aquarium with blue neon peacocks aggressive species of fish. For example, good neighbors for them would be Copadichromis Azureus, Otopharynx Lithobates and Haplochromis Jackson (Sciaenochromis fryeri).
When keeping fish in a communal aquarium must carefully consider the location of decoration. It is necessary to delimit the territory in the aquarium, forming a limited stones and plants closed areas, so that later each group of fish can settle in their territory and between the clans were not territorial claims.
The aquarium can be placed limestone rocks to maintain sufficiently high water hardness. Use sand as a substrate. Plants should be chosen hard-leaved, such as anubias or microsorum.
Water parameters: temperature 23-27° C, hardness dH 6-20°, pH 7,5-8,4. Need a strong filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh. This type of fish does not like a strong current.
The menu of fish are a variety of live, frozen and flake food. They are given chironomid, Tubifex, various small crustaceans. Food is given 1-2 times a day.
Reproduction
Aulonocara steveni reaches sexual maturity at the age of 8-15 months.
The fish are very aggressive during the breeding season, which will certainly surprise you, because it is in great contrast to their usual behavior.
The female lays eggs, 50-80 eggs, in crevices between rocks or in a previously dug hole in the ground. Immediately after spawning, she collects all the eggs in her mouth and swims up to the male, who at this time emits a cloud of milk, thereby fertilizing the eggs. The female incubates the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks.
The female protects the hatched fry, which swim into her mouth immediately if there is any danger. Once the danger has passed, the fry swim out of their mother's mouth and resume their lives. The fry grow in a flock until they reach sexual maturity.
The fry are fed cyclops, Artemia nauplii and specialized feed designed for cichlid fry. They are given four feedings per day.
The Aulonocara steveni can live up to 10 years under aquarium conditions.
