Malawi Zebra
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
A typical Lake Malawi Mbuna Cichlid, aggressive and with many color forms. JJPhoto.dk
Overview
Appearing in various shades of blue, as well as orange and even white, this Mbuna is highly aggressive toward its own kind and needs to be housed in a tank liberally aquascaped with rocks offering numerous hiding crevices and caves. Keep one male and at least three females to spread his aggression. Also known as Metriaclima zebra.
Family: Cichlidae
Other common name(s):
- Zebra Mbuna
Native range:
Habitat: Rocky bottom with plentiful algae for grazing.
Maximum length: 11.3 cm (4 in)
Minimum aquarium size: 114 L (30 gal)
Water: Freshwater 24 °C (75 °F) - 28 °C (82 °F)
General swimming level: Bottom to midwater.
Feeding
Herbivore. Offer Spirulina, dried seaweed, leaf lettuce, herbivore flakes and pellets. Will take occasional meals of meaty foods: dried mosquito larvae, black worms, enriched brine shrimp, mysid shrimp.
Aquarium Compatibility
Very aggressive. Keep only with other African cichlids, perhaps with larger Synodontis spp. catfish and Australian rainbows as dither fish.
Special Care
Require alkaline, hard water: pH 7.8–8.5, 10-20 DH.
Breeding/Propagation
Spawns in caves with females carrying the eggs and fry. Newly emerged fry can be fed baby brine shrimp or finely ground powdered fish food.