Peacock Bass

The Peacock Bass is one of the most powerful and visually stunning predatory cichlids available to aquarists — a muscular, golden-green fish adorned with bold black vertical bars and a distinctive ocellus on the tail that gives the species its common name. Cichla ocellaris is native to the Amazon basin and has been widely introduced in tropical waters worldwide, where it has earned legendary status among sport fishermen for its explosive strikes and dogged fighting ability. In the aquarium, all of that predatory intensity is on full display in a contained setting that lets you observe one of nature's most efficient freshwater hunters up close. The Fish Collection sources our Peacock Bass from captive breeding programs that produce vibrant, healthy juveniles already acclimated to prepared foods.

What makes the Peacock Bass exceptional as an aquarium fish is the intensity of its predatory behavior combined with genuine intelligence. These are not passive ambush predators — they actively patrol their territory, track movement across the tank, and execute coordinated strikes with a speed and violence that startles even experienced keepers. Feeding time with a Peacock Bass is an event. The fish accelerates from a standing hover to full-speed pursuit in a fraction of a second, engulfing prey with a suction strike that creates an audible pop.

Tank requirements are substantial. Adult Peacock Bass reach 18 to 24 inches in captivity depending on the species variant, necessitating a minimum 180-gallon aquarium for a single fish. Pairs or groups require 300 gallons or more. The tank should be sparsely decorated — open swimming space is more important than cover for this actively cruising predator. Heavy-duty filtration is essential, as Peacock Bass are messy eaters with high metabolic rates. Canister filters or sumps rated for three times the tank volume are standard.

Water parameters are flexible. Temperature between 76 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and soft to moderately hard water suit the species well. Peacock Bass prefer warmer water than many large cichlids, with 80 to 84 degrees being the sweet spot for optimal color expression and activity level. Weekly water changes of twenty-five to thirty percent maintain water quality.

Diet is exclusively carnivorous. Offer market shrimp, silversides, tilapia fillets, smelt, and high-quality cichlid pellets formulated for predatory species. Our specimens accept pellets readily, which simplifies long-term feeding management. Avoid cheap feeder goldfish — the disease risk and poor nutritional profile make them a poor choice for a premium predator. Feed juveniles daily and adults three to four times per week.

The Peacock Bass is a fish for keepers who appreciate raw predatory power combined with striking coloration. It is not a community fish — tankmates must be large, robust, and capable of coexisting with an apex predator. The Fish Collection ships all Peacock Bass in oversized, insulated containers with our live arrival guarantee.