TankBud

Zebra mbuna

Maylandia zebra

Also known as Metriaclima zebra, Pseudotropheus zebra, Blue zebra cichlid

FreshwaterFish

Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra)
Kai Squires · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–82°F
24–28°C
pH
7.6–8.6
Adult size
5.9 in
15 cm
Minimum tank
55 gal
210 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Own kind
One male per tank
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Middle
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Easy
Rarity
Common
Family
Cichlidae
Origin
Rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa, where it grazes algae from the upper rock zone.

Overview

The zebra mbuna is an aggressive cichlid from Lake Malawi, and it is easy to keep in a rocky tank.

Did you know

The orange blotched pattern of some zebra mbuna females, called OB, has been bred by hobbyists into many other Malawi cichlids.

Caring for the zebra mbuna

House zebra mbuna in a rocky tank of at least 55 gal (210 L), with plenty of caves to break up sight lines. Keep the water hard and alkaline, at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.6 to 8.6.

Feed a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina flake and algae pellets. Too much protein causes digestive trouble.

Zebra mbuna are aggressive, so choose tank mates with caution. Keep one male with a group of females, since a lone pair leads to bullying, and mix them only with other robust mbuna. Breeding them is easy.

Good to know

The zebra mbuna is the original template for the mbuna group, and it has been shuffled between the genera Pseudotropheus, Maylandia and Metriaclima. It shows several natural color morphs, including blue barred males and orange blotched females. Its genus is famous for rapid evolution and for many closely related look-alikes across the lake.

In the wild

The zebra mbuna is one of the classic rock dwellers of Lake Malawi. It stays close to rocky outcrops in the surge zone, where thick algae grows on the stones. Males defend caves and crevices while grazing groups move over the rocks.

Common questions

What size tank does a zebra mbuna need?

A zebra mbuna needs at least 55 gal (210 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a zebra mbuna need?

A zebra mbuna is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.6–8.6.

What does a zebra mbuna eat?

A zebra mbuna eats a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina flake and algae pellets. Keep protein low, since too much causes digestive trouble.

How big does a zebra mbuna get?

An adult zebra mbuna reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).

Related species