Azul Peacock Bass

fish description – Azul Peacock Bass Care Guide ($Cichla\ piquiti$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Cichla\ piquiti$
Common Name	Azul Peacock Bass, Piquiti Peacock Bass
Origin	Rivers and tributaries of Northern South America (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela)
Adult Size	16–20 inches (40–50 cm) (Can exceed 24 inches in large systems)
Temperament	Highly Predatory, Aggressive, Territorial
Lifespan	10–15 years
Care Level	Expert (High size and aggression risk)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A massive, elongated, torpedo-shaped cichlid with a large mouth and a powerful tail. It displays a stunning iridescent blue-green base color with dark vertical bar markings along the flanks and a distinctive eyespot (ocellus) near the tail base.
• Coloration: Blue-green body with black/dark banding. Males are typically larger and develop a pronounced nuchal hump (forehead lump) when mature and breeding. Sexing is difficult outside of spawning.
• Fins: Large, powerful fins adapted for explosive speed.
• Behavior: A highly active and powerful ambush predator. They are territorial and can be aggressive toward their own kind as they mature. They are active hunters that need vast space for cruising and striking.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons (680 liters) is the absolute minimum for a single adult. 300 gallons or larger is required for a small group or community setting. The tank should be very long and wide (6–8 feet minimum length).
• Schooling: Best kept singly or in a small group (3–5 juveniles) and allowed to pair off naturally, with plans to rehome non-paired fish due to escalating aggression.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $76^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$28^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (stability is crucial).
• pH Level: Slightly acidic to neutral water: 6.5 to 7.5. They are high waste producers and require massive filtration (sump or large canister filters) and regular, large water changes (30–50% weekly) to control high nitrates. Water flow should be moderate to strong, simulating a riverine environment.
• Aquascape: Keep simple. Requires plenty of open swimming space with a soft sand or fine gravel substrate. Decorate sparingly with large, securely anchored driftwood and rocks. Avoid live plants as they will be uprooted and destroyed.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Azul Peacock Bass is a strict carnivore/piscivore.

• Staple Diet: Must be fed a protein-rich diet. Offer high-quality large sinking pellets or sticks formulated for carnivorous cichlids.
• Supplementation: Feed live or frozen meaty foods regularly: Krill, Prawns (Market Shrimp), Mussels, and Fish Fillets. Train them early to accept non-live foods to avoid the disease risk of feeder fish.
• Schedule: Juveniles should be fed 2–3 times daily; large adults only need feeding once daily or every other day. They are voracious eaters; remove uneaten food immediately.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Extremely aggressive and predatory. Will eat any fish it can fit in its mouth (tank mates should be at least one-third to half the size of the Bass). Aggression increases with maturity.
• Good Tank Mates: Only suitable with fish that are too large to be eaten and can hold their own. Examples include Large Arowanas, Bichirs, Datnoids, Large Catfish (e.g., Plecos, Synodontis), and other large, robust South American Cichlids (Oscars, Jaguars, etc.). Tank mates are always a risk.