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How to look after
Metriaclima estherae
Red zebra
Konings, 1995

Metriaclima estherae - Red zebra - A pair of males showing typical colouration
A pair of males showing typical colouration
more images here

(Other members of the genus Metriaclima)

ADULT SIZE: 12 cm

WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately hard and alkaline

TEMPERATURE RANGE: 25-28 C

FOOD: Feed Metriaclima estherae a predominantly vegetarian diet

DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Lake Malawi

AQUARIUM CARE: A moderately aggressive mbuna, that is best kept in a rocky tank with other Mbunas. It is a typical reef-dwelling plankton-feeder, that is both hardy and colourful; great for beginners. In the aquarium they will take most prepared foods. Males can be blue or pinky (see image), and females can be solid orange, or a blotchy pattern (see images below).



For more about a typical tank set-up see Setting up a Lake Malawi Cichlid Aquarium.

BREEDING: A typical maternal mouthbrooder, that breeds quite readily. Generally eggs are laid on a pre-cleaned stone, and are then gathered up and cared for in the females mouth. This is one of the easier species to spawn and maintain. If they do not breed, removing some of the more aggressive tank mates will often do the trick. Water changes also seem to stimulate breeding behaviour.

Have you bred Metriaclima estherae? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Metriaclima estherae breeding reports

Similar species to Metriaclima estherae

Other members of the genus Metriaclima

Other cichlid species

Other species from Lake Malawi

Metriaclima estherae
Red zebra

A pair of males showing typical colouration

A pair of males showing typical colouration

A typical female

A typical female

An

An 'orange-blotch' female


Metriaclima estherae
Red zebra
breeding notes

BREEDING: A typical maternal mouthbrooder, that breeds quite readily. Generally eggs are laid on a pre-cleaned stone, and are then gathered up and cared for in the females mouth. This is one of the easier species to spawn and maintain. If they do not breed, removing some of the more aggressive tank mates will often do the trick. Water changes also seem to stimulate breeding behaviour.

Have you bred Metriaclima estherae? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?

Sorry no records.


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