Saffron peacock (Aulonocara "Saffron"): care, color and size

The Saffron peacock is a deep saffron orange Aulonocara, with light freckles on every scale, a bluish sheen on the face and spotted fins. It is calm and grows into a big, impressive fish. This guide covers what it needs, especially once it is an adult.

Quick facts

Name	Aulonocara "Saffron"
Origin	Aquarium-bred line, not wild
Adult size	15 to 20 cm for males
Temperament	Calm
Minimum tank	300 liters; 400 or more for a large male
Water	pH 7.8 to 8.6, hard; 24 to 27 °C
Diet	Quality pellets, with krill or mysis

Where it comes from

Like the Dragon Blood or the OB peacock, the Saffron is an aquarium variety: breeders selected peacocks for their yellow-orange color until the line was fixed. It does not live in Lake Malawi, and we say so in our profiles.

Color and size

The male develops the full saffron orange from about 8 to 10 cm and keeps deepening it with age. The female is paler, a dull yellow. It is a large peacock: males easily reach 15 cm, and some, like ours, reach 20 cm.

To keep the color, feed krill or mysis a couple of times a week, keep the water clean and do not let another male dominate it. See why a cichlid loses color.

Tank

• Large: 300 liters for a medium fish; a 20 cm male needs 400 liters or more and about 150 cm of length.
• Fine sand to search for food and open space to swim, with a few large, well-supported rocks.
• Hard, alkaline water, a good filter and weekly water changes. See Costa Rica tap water.

Tank mates

• Good: peacocks in other colors, such as the blue Sulfurhead or the Sky Blue OB, and calm haps such as the Blue Dolphin.
• Avoid: aggressive mbuna and another yellow or orange male, which would compete with it.
• Large predators like the Venustus or the Polystigma: only if the Saffron is the same size.

More combinations in compatible African cichlids and food in feeding mbuna and peacocks.

Saffron in Costa Rica

We have a 20 cm Saffron male, in full adult color, now 10 % off. The profile has real photos and the price, and you can order online or make us an offer.