Aulonocara korneliae 'Blue Gold'

Aulonocara korneliae, commonly referred to as the Blue Gold Peacock, is a seldom-encountered and highly desirable peacock cichlid from the west coast of Lake Malawi near Mbenji and Mara Rocks. Males develop a stunning two-tone colour pattern: the anterior half of the body and head display a deep metallic blue, transitioning sharply to bright golden-yellow on the posterior half and flanks — a bicolour effect that is both clean and dramatic. Like all Aulonocara species, it hunts by hovering motionlessly over sandy substrates and detecting buried invertebrates through its highly developed lateral line system, then diving to sift the sand. This hunting behaviour is fascinating to observe in an aquarium with a sandy substrate floor. A peaceful peacock cichlid that mixes well with other Aulonocara and compatible haplochromine species.

House in a Malawi-style aquarium of at least 200 litres with a sandy substrate floor area and some background rockwork. Maintain hard, alkaline water (pH 7.6–8.5, GH 10–20). Keep one male with two or more females, or in a mixed peacock/hap display with other compatible species. Feed small pellets, frozen mysis, and cyclops. Perform regular 20–25% water changes weekly.