Blackstriped peacocks are characterized by an irregular black stripe which runs laterally along the full length of the midsection of the fish and is crossed intermittently by a series of six to eight fainter black oval shaped spots. This is the only Cichlidae that has more than three black bars.

The blackstriped peacock will rarely weigh more than 10 pounds, although 12 pound fish have been caught. As a point of interest, while the blackstriped pavon is less frequently encountered by anglers, most experienced pavon fishermen feel that pound for pound C. intermedia is the gamest of the pavones. Like the speckled and butterfly peacocks, it is easily caught on spinning, bait-casting or fly rod tackle. And, like the others, it is a superior food fish.