African Cichlids
Red Zebra
Maylandia estherae
Photo: Dynen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature24–27 °C
- pH7.5–8.5
- Minimum tank250 l
- Adult size12 cm
- Difficulty★★★☆☆
- TemperamentAggressive
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Cichlidae
- Origin
- Lake Malawi (off the coast of Mozambique)
- Size
- 12 cm
- Temperature
- 24 – 27°C
- pH
- 7.5 – 8.5
- GH
- 10 – 20 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★★☆☆
- Water type
- tropical freshwater (hard and alkaline)
- Swimming level
- medium – low
- Behavior
- Aggressive (territorial toward its own species and similar fish)
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male with 3 or more females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 250 L
- Diet
- herbivore – omnivore (spirulina, vegetable pellets)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; maternal mouthbrooding
Notes: Females are orange and males are sky blue. Like all mbuna, they should be kept in heavily stocked aquariums with plenty of rocks to help diffuse aggression. Avoid meat-rich foods.
