Cichla ocellaris

Cichla ocellaris, the butterfly peacock bass, is the most widely recognised of the Cichla genus — a powerful, laterally compressed predator distributed across the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Adults display a stunning golden-yellow to bronze body interrupted by three bold dark blotches and crowned by a distinctive caudal ocellus (eye-spot) at the tail base.

Peacock bass are apex predators that require large, dedicated aquaria and a diet of feeder fish, prawns, and large meaty foods. They are not community fish and will consume any tank mate small enough to fit in their substantial mouths. In the aquarium, adults become remarkably tame and will often hand-feed.

This species is strictly for specialist large predator keepers with appropriate facilities. Water quality management in very large tanks housing messy, high-protein feeding fish requires robust multi-stage filtration and strict maintenance discipline.