Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra)

Overview

The zebra mbuna, Maylandia zebra (formerly Pseudotropheus zebra, also seen as Metriaclima), is one of the classic rock-dwelling cichlids of Lake Malawi. The best-known form is the "BB" (blue-black): sky-blue males with bold black vertical bars. There are also many regional and line-bred variants, including orange-and-black blotched "OB" females, red forms and albinos.

It is active, hardy and eye-catching, but also clearly territorial: each male claims a rock and defends it hard against similar-looking fish. It suits keepers setting up a well-planned mbuna tank who are ready to manage typical cichlid aggression. It is not a community fish and does not belong in soft water.

Care and tank setup

Adult males reach about 5 inches (12 cm) and can exceed 6 inches: plan on 75-80 gallons (300 liters) with a 4-foot (120 cm) footprint for one male and three or four females, ideally alongside other mbuna to spread aggression. Water should be hard, alkaline, stable and very clean.

• Aquascape: plenty of stacked rock with caves and passages over sand. The more sight breaks, the fewer fights.
• Plants: nearly impossible; they get eaten or uprooted.
• Tankmates: mbuna of similar size and temperament in different colors, such as yellow labs. Avoid other blue barred species, which trigger fights and hybridization, and peaceful haps.
• Common mistakes: several males in a small tank, a single female (the male will hound her) or too little rock.

Strong filtration, a heater and weekly 30% water changes keep nitrates low.

Feeding

In the lake zebras scrape aufwuchs off the rocks and pick plankton from the water, so their diet should be mostly plant-based: a spirulina mbuna pellet as the staple and occasionally a little mysis or brine shrimp. Avoid high-protein foods and beef heart. Feed small portions once or twice a day; overfeeding is the most common trigger of Malawi bloat.

Breeding

Zebra mbuna are maternal mouthbrooders and breed very easily. The male cleans a spot by his rock, the female lays the eggs and takes them into her mouth, holding them for about three weeks. She then releases 15 to 50 independent fry. Because they cross readily with related species, do not mix them with other Maylandia if you want to keep pure lines.

Compatible tank mates

Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra). Calculated from the data in each profile.

Check the compatibility of your whole tank →

What not to keep it with

Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra), and why.

• Bristlenose pleco: incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Cherry barb: incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Common goldfish: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
• Bronze cory: incompatible temperaments
• Panda cory: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, incompatible temperaments
• Zebra danio: incompatible temperatures, incompatible temperaments
• Discus: incompatible temperatures, incompatible pH, incompatible water hardness, incompatible temperaments
• Guppy: incompatible temperaments

Recommended equipment

What you need to keep the Zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) healthy, checked against Amazon stock.