All fish / Cichlidae

Ice blue red top zebra

Maylandia greshakei

Also known as william's mbuna, greshake's mbuna, ice blue zebra, red top ice blue, ice blue mbuna, metriaclima greshakei, pseudotropheus greshakei, red top ice blue zebra, 冰蓝斑马

Males are a pale icy blue with a bright orange or rusty red dorsal fin, which gives the fish its trade name. Females are usually brownish or dull orange. People keep it for the strong male colour and the busy behaviour you get in a rocky Malawi tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.5 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Omnivore: mostly plant matter, such as spirulina flakes, algae-based pellets and blanched greens, plus some small crustaceans

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

6 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The female keeps the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks, and the species breeds readily in a well set up mbuna aquarium.

Good to know

Males are territorial and aggressive, so give them plenty of rockwork and keep extra females. It hybridises easily with other Maylandia species. The name "William's mbuna" may be a mix-up with Pseudotropheus williamsi, which is a different fish.