Mbenji zebra
Maylandia mbenjii
Also known as Metriaclima mbenjii, Red-top cobalt zebra
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.5–8.5
- Adult size
- 4.3 in
- 11 cm
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal
- 200 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi, Mbenji Island
Overview
The Mbenji zebra is an aggressive island zebra for a well-rocked mbuna community. It is moderately demanding to keep.
Did you know
The red-on-blue males of the Mbenji zebra exist nowhere else in Lake Malawi. Mbenji Island is isolated enough that its zebras evolved their own local coloring, a cobalt body with red-topped fins.
Caring for the Mbenji zebra
Keep Mbenji zebras as a harem of one male with several females, which spreads out his aggression. A group settles into a rockwork tank of 53 gal (200 L) or more. Build a sand base with stacked stone forming caves, territories and breaks in sightlines, and leave open water for swimming.
Match the lake's hard, alkaline water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. Run strong, steady filtration.
Feed a green, vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae foods, and go easy on protein. Mbenji zebras graze and defend a patch low among the rocks, with typical zebra pugnacity. Stock them with equally sturdy mbuna and choose any other tank mates carefully.
Males are a light cobalt blue with red edging on the dorsal, tail and pectoral fins, while females are browner. They are maternal mouthbrooders, and breeding them is of medium difficulty.
Good to know
The Mbenji zebra belongs to the family Cichlidae, and the trade knows it as the red top cobalt zebra. Mbenji females also occur in an orange-blotched form.
In the wild
Maylandia mbenjii holds the rocky shores of Mbenji Island in Lake Malawi, and it is found in the wild only there. The island group is isolated, out in the middle of the lake.
Common questions
What size tank does a Mbenji zebra need?
A Mbenji zebra needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Mbenji zebra need?
A Mbenji zebra is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
What does a Mbenji zebra eat?
A Mbenji zebra eats a green, vegetable-based diet of spirulina and algae foods. Go easy on protein.
How big does a Mbenji zebra get?
An adult Mbenji zebra reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).
How can you tell a male Mbenji zebra from a female?
Males are a light cobalt blue, with red edging on the dorsal, tail and pectoral fins. Females are browner.
How does a Mbenji zebra breed?
The Mbenji zebra is a maternal mouthbrooder. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.
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