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No federal permit to keepPeacock cichlid
Cichla ocellaris
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Cichla ocellaris, sometimes known as the butterfly peacock bass ("peacock bass" is also used for some of its relatives), is a very large species of cichlid from South America, and a prized game fish.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 144 in long and 57 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 29.1 in / 74 cm).
- Water: Freshwater (tolerates brackish).
- Temperature: 75–81°F (range recorded for this species).
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 75–81 °F, pH 6.5–7, 0–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial.
- Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “This species requires a lot of swimming space, so it is a good idea to furnish the tank fairly sparsely.”
- Tankmates: “Territorial and moderately aggressive.”
- Breeding: “Limited reports of breeding in the hobby.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Oscars, peacock bass, pike cichlids and eartheaters
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Large South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For one adult Astronotus ocellatus, plan at least a 150 × 60 cm base according to Seriously Fish; pairs and groups need more space. Use separate adult plans for Cichla and each eartheater species.
- Soft sand for eartheaters (Geophagus, Satanoperca), which sift substrate through their gills.
Climate & lighting
Starting point only: The blanket warm-water interval excludes the subtropical seasonal requirements of G. balzanii; use overrides. Check the species-specific values for this animal where shown.
| Water | 77–84°F |
Diet
- Astronotus ocellatus is an omnivore with a preference for animal foods; offer quality pellets and varied suitable foods rather than feeder-fish dependence. Cichla and substrate-sifting eartheaters require separate feeding plans.
Health watch
- Hole-in-the-head disease and lateral line erosion in poor water; eartheaters suffer on sharp gravel.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It reaches 74 cm (29 in) in length. It is native to the Marowijne and Essequibo drainages in the Guianas, and the Branco River in Brazil.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Cichla ocellaris” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater and brackish water. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs in the rapids, in quiet waters with medium depth and rocky substrates. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater / brackish water, 75–81 °F (24–27 °C). |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: clutch tenders, biparental parental care. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 75–81 °F.
- It tolerates or needs brackish water; check salinity needs before setup.
- Parents guard eggs or young, so expect territorial behavior when breeding.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 90°F (up to 93°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 70°F (down to 65°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 78–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 78–83% on average (driest month about 75%) |
| Rainfall | about 2204 mm a year |
Measured at 197 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Cichla ocellaris, sometimes known as the butterfly peacock bass ("peacock bass" is also used for some of its relatives), is a very large species of cichlid from South America, and a prized game fish. It reaches 74 cm in length. It is native to the Marowijne and Essequibo drainages in the Guianas, and the Branco River in Brazil. It has also been introduced to regions outside its natural range (e.g., Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico), but some uncertainty exists over the exact identity, and at least some of the introductions may involve another Cichla species or hybrids. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Wild diet | The introduction of the butterfly peacock bass to Florida has successfully aided in managing and controlling tilapia and oscar populations that once were a threat via overpopulation. The fish primarily feeds on fish allowing for them to be roleplayers in the balancing of a habitat. These fish typically feed during daylight hours where visibility is better for hunting. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Spawning, with rare exceptions, takes place on a flat, horizontal surface which is either bare to begin with, or cleared of algae or other vegetation during the spawning activities. The female moves forward laying a single row of eggs and the male follows exuding sperm over each row. Once the eggs have hatched, the parents transport the larvae in their mouths to one of the depression nests. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 74.0 cm tl male/unsexed; maximum published weight 6.8 kg. — FishBase |
| Biology | Adults occur in the rapids, in quiet waters with medium depth and rocky substrates. Food consists of only small fish, especially threadfin shad, mosquito fish, tilapia and bluegill. Not considered ideal for aquaculture due to its highly predatory habits. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Helminth parasites of Cichla ocellaris Bloch & Schneider, 1801 collected in the Jacaré-Pepira River, São Paulo state, Brazil Januário FF et al., Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 2019
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish: Gymnogeophagus balzanii Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Astronotus ocellatus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
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