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Zebra Mbuna

Maylandia zebra

Freshwater Lake Malawi, Africa Usually captive bred

The zebra mbuna is a classic rock-dwelling cichlid renowned for barred blue, orange, or mottled patterns. Naturally territorial grazers, males defend caves fiercely against rivals. They require hard, alkaline water, endless rock piles for refuges, and an herbivorous, spirulina-rich diet to prevent fatal digestive bloat.

Also called: Zebra mbuna, Blue mbuna, Malawi blue cichlid, Zebra Malawi Cichlid.

11 cm adult length, drawn to scale. torpedo body.

Try it in the planner Opens a tank sized to its minimum with 1 fish added.

What it needs

ItemValueBecause
Adult length 11 cm Used for the Space check: the tank must be long enough for the fish to turn round.
Smallest tank 200 L, at least 120 cm long estimated The least water and floor length this species is kept in for good, as a single fish or smallest group.
Extra water per added fish 15 L estimated What each further fish adds once the minimum is met.
Waste load Class 3 of 5 estimated How much waste an adult makes against its size. Feeds the Load check.
Temperature 24 to 28 C Stock sharing a tank need overlapping ranges.
pH 7.6 to 8.6 Compared with tankmates in the Water check.
Hardness GH 10 to 25, KH 8 to 18 Degrees of general and carbonate hardness.
Flow Medium Low-flow fish are stressed in a strong current.
Light Bright Matched to the lighting class on the needs sheet.
Group size Single fish is fine Not a schooling species.
Temperament Aggressive Territorial: strong.
Swims in Near the bottom Fish that use different levels share a tank more easily.
Lifespan About 8 years A fish is a long commitment.
Experience Suits a first tank A guide to how forgiving the species is of mistakes.

Tags marked estimated are judged from the size and habits of the species rather than measured, so treat them as a sensible default.

Diet and tank layout

Zebra Mbuna is an herbivore that swims in the lowest part of the tank. It eats or uproots plants, so choose hard-leaved species or none. Give it plenty of cover. It digs, so anchor plants and keep hard rock off loose sand. It nips fins.

Tankmates

Works with

Depends

Avoid

Compare any two fish on the compatibility page, or print the equipment for a stock on the needs sheet. How this is worked out: the method.