Metriaclima estherae >> aquarium-fish.info

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How to look afterMetriaclima estherae

Red zebra

Konings, 1995

(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

A pair of males showing typical colouration

A typical female

An ‘orange-blotch’ female

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.