November 6, 2026
Golden Dragon peacock: care, color and tank mates
The golden peacock: what the Golden Dragon name really means, how to keep it, how to maintain its color and which fish to keep it with.
The Golden Dragon, also called Golden Dragon Blood, is a peacock of intense golden yellow, with a metallic sheen and a soft netting over the scales. It is the golden version of the Dragon Blood: just as calm and easy to combine. Before buying one, it is worth knowing what is behind the name.
Quick facts
| Name | Golden Dragon or Golden Dragon Blood (trade name) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Ornamental aquarium-bred line, not wild |
| Adult size | 12 to 15 cm, depending on the line |
| Temperament | Calm |
| Minimum tank | 250 liters, 120 cm long |
| Water | pH 7.8 to 8.6, hard; 24 to 27 °C |
| Diet | Quality pellets, with krill or mysis |
What it really is
"Golden Dragon" is a trade name, not a species. It is used for peacock (Aulonocara) lines selected in the aquarium for their golden color, related to the Dragon Blood. The name does not guarantee an exact origin: two breeders may give it to fish from different lines. That is why we present it as what it is, an ornamental breeding line, like the OB or the Saffron.
Color
Juveniles are pale yellow and the gold deepens with age. Males end up brighter, with spotted fins; females are duller. To keep the color:
- Food with carotenoids: krill, mysis and pellets with astaxanthin.
- Clean water and weekly changes.
- No bullying: a dominated male loses color. See why a cichlid loses color.
Be wary of very small fish with an overly intense gold: they may have been given hormones or dyes.
Care
It is kept like any peacock: a tank of 250 liters or more, fine sand, open swimming space, hard and alkaline water and a good filter. We explain it in tank size and stocking, Costa Rica tap water and feeding peacocks.
Tank mates
- Good: blue peacocks such as the Sulfurhead, red ones such as the Dragon Blood and calm haps such as the Blue Dolphin.
- Avoid: another golden or yellow male, such as the Saffron, in the same tank, and aggressive mbuna.
More combinations in compatible African cichlids. If you plan to breed it, read what hybrid cichlids are first.
Golden Dragon in Costa Rica
On the Golden Dragon profile you can ask us about availability and price for the current batch. Meanwhile, the Dragon Blood, its red version, is 50 % off.
Discuss it in the forumMy aquarium
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