Maison Reef Zebra

Care

In the wild, this striking Mbuna cichlid is found over rocky habitats in fairly shallow water.

 

The aquarium should be large and aquascaped to emulate that rocky reef effect. Decor such as ocean rock can be used to build sturdy structures which stretch from the base of the tank to near the surface of the water. These structures should be built with the purpose of creating many crevices for the fish to explore but constructed in such a way so as to keep the rocks stable if the fish start to dig around and underneath them. Although a substrate of coral sand or Aragonite is often recommended to help to keep the water hard and alkaline, Mbuna feel safer and show better colours over a darker substrate. The Aragonite or coral sand can always be placed into a mesh bag and kept inside the external filter for buffering purposes. It is best to keep one male with several females (keeping just one will result in continual harassment and possibly death) and these can be kept successfully alongside other outgoing Mbuna. Other Maylandia species are best avoided though, particularly those of similar appearance, as males will respond most aggressively towards look-a-likes as well as courting any females regardless of species. Other Mbuna tankmates such as Chindongo, Labidochromis and Pseudotropheus will be less problematic. 

 

Previously known as Maylandia sp. 'zebra Chilumba'

Feeding

A good quality Spirulina-based green flake should be mixed with a standard quality flake food, and offered along with appropriately sized granular foods. An occasional treat of high-fibre frozen food such as Daphnia or Mysis shrimp can be given, but this should only be offered very occasionally. 

Breeding

When in breeding dress, the male will assume an almost black and white colouration and his aggression level will heighten. He will have prepared a spawning site and will often dig a small depression in the substrate after which time he will pursue and show off to all the females in the tank. Any females ready to spawn will respond to his courtship and follow him to the spawning site. They will circle each other in a head to tail manner a number of times, until the female deposits her eggs. These are deposited just one or two at a time and after doing so, she immediately turns around and picks them up. At the same time, the male will rotate so that he is almost on his side, at the same time shaking and extending his anal fin, releasing his milt. The female sees the egg spots on the male's anal fin and attempts to pick up those dummy eggs whilst she is picking up the real ones that she deposited, and at the same time taking in milt. This is the method of fertilisation, and this ritual may go on for some hours. The eggs may be incubated for up to 25 days until they hatch and the resultant fry held for a further few days afterwards.