Red Zebra

About

The red zebra (Metriaclima estherae) is one of those fish that immediately grabs attention in a Lake Malawi setup. Not just for its coloration, but for the personality packed into a relatively compact cichlid body. Native to Lake Malawi in East Africa, this mbuna is found along rocky shorelines where it grazes on the algae-rich biofilm called aufwuchs that coats the stones. Despite the common name suggesting a single look, this species is notable for the variety of color morphs that exist, with females often appearing orange-red while males can be blue or orange depending on the population. That variability has made it a longstanding fixture in the mbuna hobby, though it has also led to a lot of mislabeled fish over the years. Temperament-wise, the red zebra is assertive in the way most mbuna are. Territorial, opinionated about tankmates, and prone to harassing fish it decides it dislikes. Keeping it with other robust mbuna of similar size and attitude generally works better than mixing it with timid species. It is best suited to hobbyists who already have some experience managing the social dynamics of an African cichlid community.