(TROP-315) Monoculus Peacock Bass (Cichla Monoculus)

When keeping Monoculus Peacock Bass in an aquarium environment, it is important to account for their large size, feeding habits and aggressive nature. Monoculus Peacock Bass come from river ways that have a constant flow of fresh water which keeps oxygen levels high and nutrient levels low.

Peacock Bass have become accustomed to an environment with high quality water with low levels of pollutants and high levels of oxygen. Monoculus Peacock Bass aquariums need to replicate this environment through strong mechanical, chemical and biological filtration along with medium to strong water movement.

While Peacock Bass are large fish that eat equally large meals, they can do well in aquariums with excellent filtration capable of removing the excess food and waste products produced from such a large species. The adult size of the Monoculus Peacock Bass is also an important factor in choosing the right aquarium to house them, with the size and shape of the aquarium being very important.

With adults sizes of around 2 feet in length, it is important to provide an aquarium that is long enough and wide enough from front to back to allow the Peacock Bass to swim and turn around comfortably. An aquarium of 6 to 8 feet in length and 3 feet from front to back should be considered as minimum aquarium size for an adult specimen, while smaller specimens can be raised in smaller aquariums if they are moved to larger tanks as they grow.

The aquarium decor should be designed to provide plenty of swimming room, while also providing some areas of cover using driftwood, floating or well rooted plants and rocks with a sandy or gravel substrate.

Tank mates are an important consideration when housing adult Peacock Bass with other New World Cichlids due to their large size and aggressive temperament. A good rule of thumb is that anything that can fit in the mouth of the Peacock Bass eventually will. Tank mates should consist of other large aggressive New World Cichlids, large Catfish species and freshwater rays.

Monoculus Peacock Bass can be kept as the only Peacock Bass species or mixed with other species of Peacock Bass. They also do well in good sized groups and will work out a dominance structure amongst themselves, which will lower aggression between fish once their social hierarchy is in place.