Red zebra cichlid

Metriaclima estherae

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)
pH: 7.5–8.5
Adult size: 3.9 in (10 cm)
Minimum tank: 45 gal (170 L)
Temperament: Aggressive
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Lake Malawi
Family: Cichlidae

Overview

These are aggressive, territorial fish, especially when breeding, so crowd them a bit and keep more females than males to spread out the harassment. They hold the middle and lower water around their rock territories. Feed a quality cichlid pellet built on vegetable matter, since they graze algae in the wild, plus the occasional protein treat. Avoid too much rich food, which can cause bloat in this group.

In the wild

Red zebra cichlids come from the rocky shorelines of Lake Malawi in East Africa, living in shallow, clear water full of rock caves and crevices. The lake is warm with a high pH from the mineral-rich rock. Match that with a pH between 7.5 and 8.5, temps in the mid to high 20s C, and lots of stacked rock that creates caves and broken sightlines. Sand on the bottom and a 170 liter tank or larger work well.

Good to know

This is an mbuna cichlid in the family Cichlidae. Mbuna means rockfish in the local Malawi language. Adults reach about 10 cm and come in red, orange, and blue forms, with males usually brighter than females. It is a maternal mouthbrooder, the female carrying eggs and fry in her mouth for protection. The species is not endangered, though the lake faces pressure from pollution and overfishing.

Did you know

The color forms vary so widely that they were once mistaken for separate species, and males and females within the same brood can look nothing alike. A dominant male's color also tracks his mood. Knock him off the top spot and his bright tone can fade within hours as a rival takes over.