The peacock cichlids of the genus Aulonocara are among the most beautiful of the Malawi cichlids. These fish exhibit high degrees of sexual dichromatism, with males being splashed in unimaginable colours, particularly as they mature, and most juveniles and females looking fairly drab. Frustratingly, virtually all females look identical; this has lead to a fair degree of hybridisation in the hobby, and wholesalers often produce their own hybrids to push marketting. These particular fish are of unknown heritage, and conform to the "Maleri Sunshine" common name, but are unlikely to actually be A. maleri, a dubious species name.

Regardless of what they actually are, there is no doubt that this is a beautiful fish. These belong to a less aggressive clade of peacocks, and shouldn't really fight much with each other. They should absolutely not be maintained with other species of peacocks, as hybrid fry may result. Less aggressive mbuna, some rainbowfish species, Synodontis catfish, and the like can all be mixed with these fishes, as well as larger specimens of the cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.