Maylandia zebra

Zebra Mbuna

Classification

Cichlidae. Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae

Distribution

Endemic to Lake Malawi

Habitat

Inhabits rocky zones of the lake at varying depths around shores, reefs and islands.

Maximum Standard Length

Males: 6″, Females: 5″

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

48″L x 18″H x 15″W (120cm x 45cm x 37.5cm) – 213 litres

Maintenance

Keep it in a typical Malawi setup, with much of the tank filled with piles of rock arranged to form lots of caves and crevices. Ideally use sand as substrate. Bright lighting is preferable to encourage the growth of algae, as Mbuna will graze both on this and the microorganisms it contains. As with all Rift Lake species, filtration and tank maintenance should be excellent as it’s sensitive to poor water quality.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 72-82°F (22-28°C)

pH: 7.6-8.6

Hardness: 10-25°H

Diet

It will accept most foods offered but as with most Mbuna vegetable matter should form the basis of the diet. High protein foods are not reommended for this species. A combination of Spirulina flakes, blanched spinach, nori (dried seaweed) and other green foods will ensure the fish receives all the vitamins and minerals it needs. A couple of “treats” a week, such as live or frozen bloodworm, Artemia and suchlike is ok but take care not to overdo how much protein is offered.

ever feed beefheart or any other animal meat as it interferes with the digestive system of these fish. Take care not to overfeed as this species is particularly prone to obesity.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

One of the more aggressive species of Mbuna, the Zebra is in no way suitable for the general tropical aquarium. It will be fine in most Malawi communities, though do not house with “gentle” Mbuna species such as those of the the Aulonocara genus (Peacock cichlids). Keep a ratio of three females to every male, with no more than one male in any tank less than 200 litres. This will help disperse aggression appropriately.

Sexual Dimorphism

The dominant male will have more vivid colouration, and all males will have more intsensely coloured egg-spots on their anal fin, as well as growing a hump on their forehead as they age. Fully mature males will be larger than fully matured females.

Reproduction

It’s a maternal mouthbrooder that utilises a similar breeding strategy to others in the genus. Ideally it should be spawned in a species tank, in a harem of one male and at least 3 females. It will spawn in a community situation, although obviously the rate of fry survival will be lower. A 48″ tank is a good size for a breeding project, and this should be furnished as suggested. Be sure to provide some flat rocks, and leave some areas of open sand to act as potential spawning sites. The pH should be around 8.0-8.5 and the temperature 77-80°F. Condition the fish on a high quality diet, and they should take care of the rest.

When in condition the male will proceed to clean a spawning site of his choosing. Displays of intense colour designed to entice passing females to mate with him will follow. He can be quite aggressive in his pursuits and it is to dissipate this that the species should be spawned in a harem. When a female is receptive, she will approach the spawning site and lay her eggs in several batches, immediately collecting each batch in her mouth. Fertilisation occurs in typical Mbuna fashion. The male has ‘egg spots’ (egg-shaped spots of colour) on his anal fin and the female is attracted to these, thinking they are eggs she has missed. When she tries to add these to the brood in her mouth the male releases his sperm. The female then lays her next batch of eggs and the process is repeated until she is carrying the full brood. Numbers are usually quite low, with 10-15 being the average.

The female will carry the eggs for 3-4 weeks, before releasing the free swimming fry. She will not eat during this period and can be easily spotted by her distended mouth. If a female is overly stressed she may spit out the brood prematurely or eat them, so care must be taken if you decide to move the fish. It’s also worth noting that if a female is away from the colony for too long she may lose her position in the pecking order of the group. Wait as long as possible before moving a female, unless she is being harassed constantly. Some breeders artificially ‘strip‘ the fry from the mother’s mouth at the 2 week stage and raise them from that point, as this usually results in a larger number of healthy young. This approach is strictly for experts only, however.

The fry are large enough to take Artemia nauplii and crushed dried foods from the moment they’re released by the mother.

NotesTop ↑

It’s a maternal mouthbrooder that utilises a similar breeding strategy to others in the genus. Ideally it should be spawned in a species tank, in a harem of one male and at least 3 females. It will spawn in a community situation, although obviously the rate of fry survival will be lower. A 48″ tank is a good size for a breeding project, and this should be furnished as suggested. Be sure to provide some flat rocks, and leave some areas of open sand to act as potential spawning sites. The pH should be around 8.0-8.5 and the temperature 77-80°F. Condition the fish on a high quality diet, and they should take care of the rest.

When in condition the male will proceed to clean a spawning site of his choosing. Displays of intense colour designed to entice passing females to mate with him will follow. He can be quite aggressive in his pursuits and it is to dissipate this that the species should be spawned in a harem. When a female is receptive, she will approach the spawning site and lay her eggs in several batches, immediately collecting each batch in her mouth. Fertilisation occurs in typical Mbuna fashion. The male has ‘egg spots’ (egg-shaped spots of colour) on his anal fin and the female is attracted to these, thinking they are eggs she has missed. When she tries to add these to the brood in her mouth the male releases his sperm. The female then lays her next batch of eggs and the process is repeated until she is carrying the full brood. Numbers are usually quite low, with 10-15 being the average.

The female will carry the eggs for 3-4 weeks, before releasing the free swimming fry. She will not eat during this period and can be easily spotted by her distended mouth. If a female is overly stressed she may spit out the brood prematurely or eat them, so care must be taken if you decide to move the fish. It’s also worth noting that if a female is away from the colony for too long she may lose her position in the pecking order of the group. Wait as long as possible before moving a female, unless she is being harassed constantly. Some breeders artificially ‘strip‘ the fry from the mother’s mouth at the 2 week stage and raise them from that point, as this usually results in a larger number of healthy young. This approach is strictly for experts only, however.

The fry are large enough to take Artemia nauplii and crushed dried foods from the moment they’re released by the mother.