Brokopondo Peacock Bass

 

fish description – Brokopondo Peacock Bass Care Guide ($Cichla\ sp.$ ‘Brokopondo’ Strain)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Cichla\ sp.$ (‘Brokopondo’ Morph)
Common Name	Brokopondo Peacock Bass
Origin	Lake Brokopondo region (Suriname, South America)
Adult Size	18–28 inches (45–70 cm)
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, torpedo-shaped cichlid with a powerful jaw. It has a striking blue-green base coloration with a unique pattern of heavy dark vertical bars and the characteristic eyespot (ocellus) near the tail. This variant is often noted for its stockier head and shoulder structure.

Coloration: Blue-green base with deep black/dark vertical markings. Juveniles grow rapidly, displaying intense colors early on. Males grow larger, are more robust, and may develop a significant nuchal hump when breeding. Sexing is difficult outside of spawning.

Fins: Large, powerful fins adapted for explosive burst swimming.

Behavior: A highly active, high-energy ambush predator. It is intensely territorial and can be aggressive toward its own kind as it matures. It requires vast, open swimming space for cruising and striking.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

Minimum Tank Size: 220 gallons (830 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: $76^\circ$–$84^\circ\text{F}\ (24^\circ$–$29^\circ\mathrm{C})$ (stability is crucial).

pH Level: Slightly acidic to neutral water: 6.5 to 7.5. They are high waste producers and require massive filtration and regular, large water changes (30–50% weekly) to control high nitrates. Water flow should be moderate to strong.

Aquascape: Keep simple. Requires vast open swimming space with a soft sand or bare-bottom substrate. Decorate sparingly with large, securely anchored driftwood and rocks to provide cover and visual breaks. A secure, heavy lid is mandatory to prevent jumping.

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Diet and Feeding

The Brokopondo 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 (training to accept pellets is highly recommended).

Supplementation: Feed live or frozen meaty foods regularly: Krill, Prawns (Market Shrimp), Chopped Fish Fillet, and Earthworms. Avoid fatty meats and feeder fish unless rigorously quarantined.

Schedule: Juveniles should be fed 2–3 times daily; large adults only need feeding once daily or every other day. They are voracious and should consume food quickly; remove uneaten food promptly.

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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 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.