As
the newest peacock color variety finds its way from Germany to
the U.S., it’s not surprising that A. sp. “Rubescens”
is wrapped in some controversy.
In
a recent issue of an American Cichlid Association publication,
there is a view expressed that all of the “Red” peacock
color morphs being developed in Germany are really the same fish
being offered under different names.
I
don’t agree with this thinking.
I
phoned and explained to the writer, who admittedly does not keep
the fish, that our aquaria housed “German Red Peacocks”,
“Rubescens Peacocks” and “Eureka Red
Peacocks”—all of which share a German origin—and
that these fish decidedly, emphatically are not the same peacocks
in terms of looks.
To
be brief:
Auloncara
sp. “Rubescens” exhibits a bright orange coloration
through the body and fins which contrasts with a small amount
of blue on the head. Females have a distinct orange outline across
the dorsal fin. In my experience, it is much more peaceful than
the average peacock. From a color standpoint, it is my favorite
peacock.
Auloncara
sp. “German Red” differs from “Rubescens”
in that it has many more blue striations in the head, body and
fins—enough blue all over that the impression is of a red-orange
and blue fish. We have kept groups of “German Reds”
from several different sources, including one group which was
direct from Germany.
Auloncara
sp. “Eureka Red” has a longer body and more sloped
head and, moreover, has an entirely different pattern of reds
and blues than either of the previous two fish. It is also much
more aggressive—no doubt because of its probable origin as
a jackobfreibergi.
The “Rubescens”
and “German Red”, according to knowledgeable
worldwide sources, derive from another peacock species. The original
sources say the “Rubescens” was developed from
A. baenschi (Maleri Island) and the “German Red”
from A. baenschi (Chipoka). Until someone convinces me
differently, I’ll accept this information. The color patterns
fit the original fish quite well.
It’s
important to note in this discussion that the “Red”
peacocks from Germany do not appear to be the products of hybridization.
Instead, they are produced by line-breeding special morphs of
a species—the same type of development which originally produced
albino corydoras, fantail guppies, lyretail mollies, etc.
(Note:
The “Rubescens” is sometimes called “Ruby
Red Peacock” in an attempt to Americanize the German
name.)
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