Cichla Mono

Question
Hi Karen,

I'm a student at the University of Queensland and I am writing to you in regard to a specific topic on which I'm doing a paper.

I presume in your South America/Amazonian  display you have Cichla Monoculus (Peacock Bass) or another member of the same genus.

My paper is looking at an opportunity to use peacock bass as a comercially viable species and I need help in regard to stocking density, sexing and the most successful way to keep them in a mature state. eg male female ratio

Your advice is much appreciated.

Charlie Royle

Answer
Dear Charlie, I will do my best...

Actually, to clear things up. I DO NOT have an specific Amazonia display with Peacock bass. I know you must have had some confusion because many people have asked me about this beautiful predatory species and many have had entire aquariums of immense sizes that they wanted to devote to Peacocks.
I greatly apologize for the confusion...

I do however, have good knowledge on the Peacock bass and am happy to answer your questions based on my own research and speaking with other peacock bass enthusiasts.

There are actually 5 reconized species of Peacock bass, lets concentrate on your specified one-- "Cichla Monoculus"
Cichla Monos are a large predatory species and is especially aggressive towards it's own kind. As with all the 5 species in this genus, Mono does best in a species aquarium. An ideal aquarium size would be at least a 6 foot tank. This species should never be overcrowded. For they will surely not tolerate it at the very least. Peacocks are hard to keep and grow so large, sometimes 28 inches that many aquarists cannot keep them long term. It is for certain that these lunkers do best in outdoor/indoor ponds...Where ever the water temperature does not get cooler--they are less tolerate of cool water than most cichlids.
For some insight on their breeding behavior with pictures- please visit this link to another fishkeepers experience with a pair of spawning Monoculus...
"http://bestfish.com/cichla/cichlas.html"

Your best chances of sucess with spawning Peacock bass is to attain a group of 6 or more young fish and allow them to grow up and pair up as they choose. Peacocks form devoted pairs and will aggressively defend their fry from any intruders. You will have to select one or two of the pairs from your group and likely have to sell or give away the others. Spawning pairs have very little tolerance for much of anything that may threaten their brood. It's usually best to keep one pair per tank. Males mature faster than females, at one year of age, the male is ready to breed where a female peacock bass must be at least 2 years of age. With a large hump on their head, this is the only way to differ the male besides watching the pair spawn. As many as 10,000 adhesive eggs are laid upon a rock that has been selected as a spawning site.

Well, I hope this helps! If I've left anything out, or you have more questions, feel free to write...

Best wishes and Good luck!
Karen~
-for lots more info on Peacock bass-
"www.wetpetz.com/cichlamonoc.htm" can help you out.