All fish / Cichlidae

Zebra mbuna

Maylandia zebra

Also known as zebra cichlid, blue zebra, pseudotropheus zebra, metriaclima zebra, metriaclima melabranchion, maylandia melabranchion, bb zebra, red zebra, zebra malawi, pseudotropheus zebra black dorsal, ปลาหมอมาลาวี, ゼブラシクリッド

A sturdy, rock-dwelling Lake Malawi cichlid whose males are usually pale blue with dark vertical bars and a dark throat and belly. Fish once described as Maylandia (Metriaclima) melabranchion, from Mumbo Island, are now treated by FishBase as Maylandia zebra. It is kept for its bright colour and lively, bold behaviour in rocky mbuna tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

11 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

7.6 to 8.6

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

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

Diet

Herbivore: algae-based flakes and pellets, spirulina, blanched greens, with occasional small crustaceans

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the eggs and fry in her mouth for about three weeks after spawning on a rock. Breeding is easy in a well-kept mbuna tank with enough females.

Good to know

Males are very territorial, so give plenty of rockwork and avoid keeping it with peaceful fish or similar-looking mbuna it may hybridise with. Avoid protein-heavy foods, which can cause Malawi bloat.