Blue Zebra Mbuna – Pseudotropheus zebra blue

The Blue Zebra Mbuna (Pseudotropheus zebra blue) is also known as the Williams Mbuna, Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid.

Scientific Name:

Pseudotropheus zebra blue

Approximate purchase size:

2-3cm

All Pond Solutions will always endeavour to supply as close to the approximate size range as possible. Due to variations from suppliers on rare occasions this may not always be possible.

How easy are they to care for?

These fish are moderately easy to care for. They need plenty of rocks, caves, and gravel in the aquarium and must be kept on a vegetarian diet. Theyrequire a minimum tank size of 55 gallonsand are semi-aggressive so require monitoring.

How large can they grow?

Up to 10cm

Where in the world are they from?

Lake Malawi in Africa

What is the ideal number to keep together?

A grouping of 10 or more is recommended to spread out aggressive behavior and should be kept in a mbuna tank.

What water conditions do they require?

The water temperature should be between 22 – 28 C and a pH level between 7.5 8.5

What should you feed them?

The blue zebra is primarily vegetarian and needs a herbivore based diet. Flakes, seaweeds, pellets and frozen foods are suitable. Occasionally, frozen brine shrimp, krill or plankton are suitable.

How compatible are they with other fish?

Due to their semi-aggressive behavior, they should be kept with other mbunas and in a large group to spread out aggressive behavior. It is best to keep a ratio of one male to three females. They are usually too aggressive to be kept with Peacock Cichlids and Haplochromis.

Can they be bred in captivity?

The blue zebra is an egg-laying breeder, and the female will keep her eggs in her mouth for about a week until they hatch. She will not usually eat until the fry are old enough to protect themselves as the fry use their mother’s mouth for hiding. Once they are big enough they can be fed flakes, daphnia, and baby brine shrimp.