Peacock bass

Peacock bass
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cichlidae
Genus:	Cichla
Species:	C. orinocensis
Binomial name
Cichla orinocensis

The peacock bass, Cichla orinocensis, also commonly known as the peacock cichlid and tucunaré (too-coon-a-ray) in Brazil, is a freshwater fish native to South America (where it is known as the "pavon"), and introduced to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia deliberately by anglers as a popular game fish. In the United States, two sub-species of peacock bass, butterfly peacock bass (Cichla ocellaris) and speckled peacock bass (Cichla temensis) were deliberately introduced and are quite common in South Florida waters, where they prey on other non-native invasive fish such as the oscar and spotted tilapia. The peacock bass is prized as an angling gamefish for its fighting qualities when hooked. In some of its adopted habitats, it has been identified as a potential cause for ecological imbalance.

Although its eating quality is excellent, most professional South Florida anglers recommend practicing catch and release for this species to protect its numbers in this region's lakes and canals.

A member of the Cichlidae family, the large fish can grow to 62 cm in length, and can be identified by three rosettes on its body, as well as what resembles "peacock eyes" on the adult's tail fin, a feature which gave it its common name. This species of cichla tends to turn a bright green when in adulthood. The males have a prononced hump or bump on their foreheads once they reach adulthood, a feature not uncommon among cichlids.

In the aquarium

As aquarium fish they are voracious and predatory, eating any smaller tankmates, and may pick on others of similar size. Require live food as juveniles and can be switched to meaty dry or frozen foods. Most species of Peacock Bass grow to a length of 2 feet but the Cichla Temensis may grow to 3 feet. They need very large tanks as adults of at least 240 gallons, but larger is better.

Links and References

• Florida Peacock Bass Fishing
• "Cichla orinocensis". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. 30 January. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= and |year= / |date= mismatch (help)
• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cichla orinocensis". FishBase. October 2005 version.