Konings' zebra

Care at a glance

Overview

A compact zebra mbuna that lives by the usual harem rules, so keep one male with several females to soften his drive to dominate. It works the bottom around rock, grazing and defending a small territory, and it carries the typical zebra temper, which means firm mbuna companions and careful tankmate choices. Offer a vegetable-leaning diet of spirulina and algae-based foods with only modest protein. Because it is a deeper-water fish that appreciates cover, give it a well-built rock tank of about 160 liters or more.

In the wild

This is a deep-water form from the northeastern shore of Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, recorded mainly over sediment-rich rock between about 15 and 30 meters. Build it a base of fine sand with piled stone that leaves shaded crevices, since it favors the dimmer, deeper rock rather than the bright shallows. Match Lake Malawi chemistry with hard, alkaline water held warm at 24 to 28 C and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5, kept clean and stable by good filtration.

Good to know

Maylandia koningsi is a Lake Malawi mbuna in the family Cichlidae, described by Jay Stauffer in 2018. It reaches around 8 centimeters, and unlike many zebras it lacks strong vertical barring, males showing blue with a dark band in the dorsal fin while females are yellow-orange. The female mouthbroods the eggs and fry, and it breeds at medium difficulty. The species is named for Ad Konings, whose field guides have documented much of what hobbyists know about Malawi cichlids.

Did you know

The fish honors Ad Konings, one of the most prolific documenters of Lake Malawi cichlids, and it was long known to divers and collectors simply as the membe deep, after Membe Point on Likoma Island where it keeps to the deeper rock.

Common questions

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