Maylandia estherae

Taxobox
name = Red Zebra
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_caption = A Red Zebra in an aquarium
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Cichlidae
genus = "Pseudotropheus"
binomial = "Pseudotropheus estherae"
binomial_authority = (Konings, 1995)
synonyms ="Maylandia estherae"

Known in aquaria as the "red zebra", one of the common Pseudotrophine cichlids is "Pseudotropheus estherae", a rock dwelling fish from the genus "Pseudotropheus", (though sometimes placed in the genus "Maylandia"). These fish, like most cichlids from Lake Malawi, are 'mouthbrooders,' females hold their fertilized eggs, then fry, in their mouth until they are released after about 21 days.

Females can grow up to 10 cm (4 in) while males will grow up to 12.7 cm (5 in).

Despite their "red zebra" name, these fish are most commonly orange, but they are sexually dimorphic, the males sometimes having reddish stripes.

Aquarium Care

The males are territorial, and subordinate males will be picked on by the dominant or alpha male. Like the other cichlids of this genus, they are best kept in tanks harems with one male to many females. They prefer a rocky terrain providing numerous hiding places, where weaker fish can find necessary shelter. They also arrange pebbles more often than other aquarium fish which should be smooth to avoid injury to their mouths, in an effort to build a “dwelling”. Their predominate food source is algae though those in aquaria will take typical cichlid foods and some vegetable greens as a treat.

ee also

*Mbuna
*List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

*ITIS|ID=648874|taxon=Pseudotropheus estherae|year=2005|date=June 24
*FishBase_species_alt|ID=60044|taxon=Pseudotropheus estherae|year=2005|month=May