All fish / Cichlidae

Maylandia xanstomachus

Maylandia xanstomachus

Also known as metriaclima xanstomachus, pseudotropheus xanstomachus, xanstomachus mbuna, yellow belly zebra, maylandia xanthostomachus

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This is a mbuna from the zebra group. Males are pale blue with darker bars and a yellow throat and belly, and females are duller. People keep it because it is colourful and active, and it suits busy rocky Malawi set-ups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

One male with three or more females in a stocked mbuna tank

Diet

Herbivore: spirulina flakes and pellets, algae, vegetable-based foods with occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi, Africa (Mbenji Islands area, Malawi)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. After spawning the female holds the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks. It breeds readily in a well-kept mbuna tank, so breeding it at home is fairly easy.

Good to know

Males are territorial and can be rough with each other and with similar-looking zebra mbuna. Avoid mixing it with close relatives because they can hybridise. A protein-heavy diet can cause Malawi bloat.