Red zebra cichlid
Maylandia estherae
Also known as 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
- Own kind
- One male per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi
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.
Common questions
What size tank does a Red zebra cichlid need?
A Red zebra cichlid needs at least 45 gal (170 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Red zebra cichlid need?
A Red zebra cichlid is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.5–8.5.
How big does a Red zebra cichlid get?
An adult Red zebra cichlid reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
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