Red Zebra Cichlid

About

The red zebra cichlid is a robust mbuna endemic to the rocky shores of Lake Malawi, where it grazes aufwuchs from sunlit boulders. Despite its name it is highly colour-variable, with dominant males often deep orange and females paler; both sexes can appear in blue, orange or pink forms. Hardy and boldly coloured, it is also pugnacious and territorial, so it needs a spacious tank of hard, alkaline Rift Lake water broken up by heavy rockwork.

Care

Keep in hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.5) over sand with abundant rockwork in a tank of 200 L or more. Best as a harem of one male with several females; aggressive and territorial, so choose sturdy Malawi tankmates and avoid peaceful community fish.

Diet

Herbivorous aufwuchs grazer; feed spirulina- and vegetable-based foods with blanched greens. Strictly limit protein-rich foods to prevent Malawi bloat.

Sources

• Seriously Fish — Pseudotropheus estherae (Red Zebra)
• FishBase — Maylandia estherae