Zebra mbuna
Maylandia zebra
A mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, from rocky areas. It eats 'aufwuchs' — the layer of algae and tiny organisms covering the rocks — and also plankton. The female mouthbroods the eggs. The male is more colourful and has egg-shaped spots on the anal fin.
- Scientific name
- Maylandia zebra
- Family
- Cichlidae
Fact sheet
General
- Water
- Freshwater
- Group
- Fish
Taxonomy
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Order
- Cichliformes
- Synonyms
- Maylandia melabranchion, Metriaclima melabranchion, Metriaclima zebra, Pseudotropheus zebra, Tilapia zebra
Origin
- Native region
- África
Water
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
- pH
- 7.6–8.6
- General hardness (GH)
- 10–25 °dGH
Size and lifespan
- Adult size
- 15.2 cm
- Minimum tank (volume)
- 205 L
- Minimum tank (length)
- 120 cm
Behavior
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Swimming level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Herbivore
Care
- Care difficulty
- Moderate
Reproduction
- Breeding strategy
- Mouthbrooder
Conservation and trade
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
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