All fish / Cichlidae

Maylandia flavifemina

Maylandia flavifemina

Also known as metriaclima flavifemina, pseudotropheus flavifemina, yellow female zebra

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This is a small rock-dwelling mbuna from Lake Malawi, first described in 2006 under the genus Metriaclima. Males are typically pale blue with dark bars, while the species name refers to the yellowish females. Keepers of Malawi cichlids value it as a less common zebra-type mbuna for rocky tanks with hard, alkaline water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

9 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females in a crowded mbuna community

Diet

Omnivore: mostly plant-based foods such as spirulina flakes and pellets, plus some small crustaceans

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (endemic), East Africa

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder: the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. Breeding in captivity is usually easy if the water is good and there are enough females to spread out the male's attention.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can be rough with each other and with similar-looking mbuna, so pile up plenty of rockwork and avoid keeping it with close relatives, as they may hybridise. Feeding too much protein can cause Malawi bloat.