Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra)

Scientific name: Maylandia zebra Boulenger, 1899

Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra)

The Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) is a freshwater fish of the family Cichlidae that grows to about 15 cm (5.9 in). It is easy to keep and aggressive and needs a tank of at least 210 L (55 US gal), water at 23–27°C (73–81°F) and a pH of 7.2–9.0. Native range: Africa, Endemic to Lake Malawi.

Zebra mbuna care at a glance

Care level
Easy
Temperament
Aggressive
Adult size
15 cm (5.9 in)
Minimum tank
210 L (55 US gal)
Temperature
23–27°C (73–81°F)
pH
7.2–9.0
Hardness
9–19 dGH (161–339 ppm)
Diet
Omnivore. Accepts flakes, algae wafers, frozen foods and live foods.

Biology

Dorsal spines: 16 - 19; Dorsal soft rays: 7-10; Anal spines: 3 - 4; Anal soft rays: 6 - 9. Diagnosis: head moderately sloped; rostral tip of the neurocranium swollen; jaws isognathus; outer rows of the jaws with bicuspid teeth; absence of any interrupted pigment in the pale blue dorsal fin in combination with black bars on a blue ground; gill rakers on first ceratobranchial 8-14; gill rakers on first epibranchial 1-3. Females with gray/blue to blue/brown ground color and no yellow pigment in unpaired fins, ocelli in anal fin present.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Maylandia zebra
Family
Cichlidae (Cichlids)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
11.3
Depth range
6–28 m (20–92 ft)
Environment
Freshwater;; pH range: 8.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19 demersal; depth range 6 - 28 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Africa: Endemic to Lake Malawi. Occurs on the northwestern coast between Cape Manulo and Kande Islands. Also found on Jalo Reef, at Namalenje Islands, Cape Maclear, Monkey Bay, Boadzulu Islands and Nkopola. On the eastern part, occurs at Fort Maguire, Masinje on Likoma and Chisumulu Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Aquarium: highly commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

More african cichlids

See all african cichlids

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.

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