Photo: Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Red zebra
Maylandia estherae
13.5 cm
Adult size
170 L
Minimum volume
4
Minimum group
8 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Maylandia
- Diet
- herbivore, algae eater
- Social life
- harem
In the wild
Overview
This popular mbuna was only described in 1995: before that it was considered a form of the zebra Maylandia zebra. Its genus is still debated, between Maylandia, Metriaclima and Pseudotropheus. Pale blue males and bright orange females earn it the name “red zebra”.
- Scientific name
- Maylandia estherae (Konings, 1995)
- Classification
- Cichliformes › Cichlidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Endemic to Lake Malawi: Mozambique coast, from Metangula and Minos Reef to Gome
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It lives on the lake's rocky shores and reefs, where it grazes algae; males are territorial there.
Behaviour
Not very aggressive for a mbuna, but robust: do not keep it with peaceful species (Aulonocara, Copadichromis) but with other mbuna of similar size. A well-stocked tank limits aggression, with several females per male and a single male unless the tank is very large. Plant matter (spirulina, spinach, nori) should dominate its diet; never beef heart or meat.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth