Zebra mbuna

Care at a glance

Overview

House them in a rocky tank of at least 210 liters with plenty of caves to break up sight lines. Keep one male with a group of females, and mix only with other robust mbuna since a lone pair leads to bullying. Water should be hard and alkaline at 24 to 28 C, pH 7.6 to 8.6. Feed a mostly vegetable diet of spirulina flake and algae pellets, since too much protein causes digestive trouble.

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.

Good to know

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

Did you know

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

Related species

• Ice blue zebra

  Metriaclima greshakei

  5.5 in (14 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Red zebra cichlid

  Metriaclima estherae

  3.9 in (10 cm)45 gal (170 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Bumblebee cichlid

  Pseudotropheus crabro

  5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Convict Cichlid

  Amatitlania nigrofasciata

  5.9 in (15 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Featherfin cichlid

  Ophthalmotilapia ventralis

  5.9 in (15 cm)61 gal (230 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Salvin's Cichlid

  Cichlasoma salvini

  5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)