Peacocks: substrate and compatability questions.

F

Fishle

AC Members
Jun 18, 2006
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Can Peacocks do fine with a gravel substrate (with plenty of caves) or does the substrate always have to be sand?

Can Peacocks be put in a 75g tank (8.0pH, 13GH, 14KH, gravel, no live plants) with a Krib, Rainbowfish, Swordtails, Gouramis, and a Rainbow/Blacktailed Shark?
 
I have peacocks in with gravel and they're fine...
 
My 55g peacock tank (2pr Taiwan Reef, 5 Aulonacara hyassa) has a combo of gravel, crushed coral with shells, and some sand. They love moving the shells and gravel, and "spit-move" sand all day. I think as long as they can move it, they're happy.
 
Mine seem to do fine with gravel. I put some crushed coral in one of my filter stages to raise the ph a bit. They can still sort through the rocks and find food that dropped through. Check my pics to see how the gravel looks.

Most peacocks I've seen and all mine are very active, my parents have a few gouramis and swordtails and they seem to be more chill. When they get bigger they might even eat the swordtails. The krib/rainbow/shark would be OK I guess.
 
Fishle said:
Can Peacocks do fine with a gravel substrate (with plenty of caves) or does the substrate always have to be sand?
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It does not need to be sand, but I reccommend it. Sand brings out the natural behaviours of the fish, and they love to sift through it to find food. Peacocks will also hover above the sand and using a special sensor they will locate food within the sand. Gravel will be okay, but I dont think they like it. Its just not natural. ;)

Fishle said:
Can Peacocks be put in a 75g tank (8.0pH, 13GH, 14KH, gravel, no live plants) with a Krib, Rainbowfish, Swordtails, Gouramis, and a Rainbow/Blacktailed Shark?
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I would advise against keeping these other fish with peacocks, especially the smaller ones that could become lunch. Peacocks, while fairly peaceful, ARE Malawi cichlids and can be quite aggressive at times.

-Diana
 
I didn't think Peacocks would get big enough to eat any of the others. According to Foster&Smith they only grow up to 6".

I'm running out of ideas for inexpensive fish that can handle my crappy water conditions. :sad:
 
Fishle said:
I'm running out of ideas for inexpensive fish that can handle my crappy water conditions. :sad:
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Crappy water conditions?! As an African cichlid hobbiest, I envy your water!
 
I have gone from Crushed shells to sand-size argonite. Wow, what a difference in the peacocks actions.

I highly recommend sand-size gravel or sand. They are much happier with sifting through and rearranging the sand.

So far we are in agreement how the sand should pile up. :)
 
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