Ice Blue Zebra Cichlid - (No Online Purchases)
- Origin: Lake Malawi
- Adult Size: 10cm
- Social: Semi Aggressive
- Lifespan:
- Tank Level: Mid Level
- Minimum Tank Size: 150l
- Diet: Omnivore with more needs in herbivorous side
- Care: Moderate - better in groups of 12 or more
- pH:7.6-8.6
- Temperature:23-28
The Ice Blue Zebra Cichlid is a beautiful and popular African cichlid from Lake Malawi. It is known by several scientific names, most commonly Maylandia greshakei, but also seen as Metriaclima greshakei and previously as Pseudotropheus greshakei. It's also known by the common names William's Mbuna and Red Top Ice Blue Zebra.
Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics and care:
Appearance:
- They have a striking ice-blue body.
- Males are typically more colorful and develop a bright orange or red dorsal fin, giving them the "Red Top" name.
- Females are generally less vibrant, often with a brownish or greyish body and less prominent coloration in the fins.
- They typically reach a size of 4-6 inches (10-15 cm), with males sometimes growing slightly larger.
Origin and Habitat:
- The Ice Blue Zebra Cichlid isendemic to Lake Malawi in Africa.
- Specifically, it's primarily found in the southeastern arm of the lake near Makokola.
- They inhabit rocky areas where they can find shelter and establish territories.
Tank Requirements:
- A minimum tank size of 50 gallons (around 200 liters) is recommended for a small group. Larger tanks are necessary for keeping more individuals or a community of Mbuna.
- The tank should be well-decorated with plenty of rocks, caves, and hiding spots to mimic their natural environment and reduce aggression.
- A sandy substrate is appreciated.
Water Parameters:
- Temperature: 75-82°F (24-28°C)
- pH: 7.8-8.6 (alkaline)
- Hardness: Moderate to hard (8-25 dKH)
Temperament and Tank Mates:
- Ice Blue Zebra Cichlids are moderately aggressive and territorial, especially males.
- They are best kept in a species-only tank or with other Mbuna cichlids of similar size and temperament.
- Avoid keeping them with shy or peaceful fish that could be bullied.
- It's generally recommended to keep more females than males (e.g., 1 male to 3-4 females) to distribute aggression.
- Do not house them with fish of similar color and shape, as males will likely view them as rivals.
Diet:
- They are primarily herbivores in the wild, feeding on phytoplankton.
- In the aquarium, their diet should consist mainly of high-quality cichlid pellets or flakes with a vegetable base (e.g., spirulina).
- Supplement their diet with blanched vegetables like spinach and zucchini.
- Offer meaty foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp sparingly, as a diet too high in protein can lead to Malawi bloat.
Breeding:
- Ice Blue Zebra Cichlids are maternal mouthbrooders.
- Best breeding results are achieved with a ratio of one male to several females in a species-specific breeding tank.
- The male will display and court the females, often digging a small pit in the substrate.
- The female will lay eggs on a flat rock or in a cave, and the male will fertilize them.
- The female immediately picks up the eggs in her mouth and holds them for about 3-4 weeks until they hatch and the fry are free-swimming.
- During this time, the female will not eat.
- Once the fry are released, they can be fed crushed flakes, baby brine shrimp, or other small fry food.
