Red zebra cichlid care
Maylandia estherae · Lake Malawi, East Africa
Red zebras are hardy mbuna from Lake Malawi; despite the name, most are orange, and males can be blue.
- Tank size
- 55 US gal or larger
- Temperature
- 72 to 82 °F (22 to 28 °C)
- Group size
- 3 or more
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Adult size
- 5 in
- pH
- 7.5 to 8.5
- Hardness (GH)
- 8 to 15 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5 to 10 years
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Care level
- Easy
In a 55 gallon
48¼ × 12¾ × 21 in outsideHow to keep red zebra cichlids
Red zebras are hardy mbuna from Lake Malawi; despite the name, most are orange, and males can be blue. Keep one male with several females in a 55 gallon or larger tank of hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5 to 8.5) at 72 to 82 °F, with rock piles and other Lake Malawi cichlids only.
Diet: Herbivore: spirulina and vegetable-based cichlid foods. Fish food types compared · how often to feed.
Where they swim: Bottom of the tank.
Red zebra cichlid tank mates
Share the temperature and water, and neither side eats, nips or bullies the other. Check the full group in the stocking checker.
Every likely tankmate in our list comes with a caution for red zebra cichlids. These can share a large tank if you watch them closely:
Electric blue hap: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive and may fight with electric blue haps.
Auratus cichlid: Red zebra cichlids and auratus cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Rusty cichlid: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive and may fight with rusty cichlids.
Yellow lab cichlid: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive and may fight with yellow lab cichlids.
Acei cichlid: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive and may fight with acei cichlids.
Bumblebee cichlid: Red zebra cichlids and bumblebee cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Blue dolphin cichlid: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive and may fight with blue dolphin cichlids.
Kenyi cichlid: Red zebra cichlids and kenyi cichlids are both aggressive and may fight.
Keep apart
Neon tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as neon tetras.
Cardinal tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as cardinal tetras.
Black neon tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as black neon tetras.
Green neon tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as green neon tetras.
Ember tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as ember tetras.
Glowlight tetra: Red zebra cichlids are aggressive towards peaceful fish such as glowlight tetras.
What a red zebra cichlid tank needs
A tank of 55 US gallons or more (such as the 55 gallon) with a cover, and the equipment below.
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Aqueon QuietFlow Canister Filter 200
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon red zebra cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Seachem Tidal 55
Rated by the maker for up to 55 US gal, which covers a 55 gallon red zebra cichlid tank without being built for a far bigger one.
Aqueon Pro 150
Red zebra cichlids need 72 to 82 °F; most homes run cooler, so a heater holds the temperature.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Tests ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, the readings that matter most before and after adding red zebra cichlids.
Seachem Prime 100 mL
Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water at every water change.
Fluval Edge Thermometer
Shows the water temperature at a glance, so you know it stays within 72 to 82 °F.
More choices, each with the reason it is in or out: Filters for a 55 gallon tank · Heaters for a 55 gallon tank. We don’t list fish food: any good brand of the foods under Diet will do. Plan the whole tank's equipment →
Common red zebra cichlid problems
- Dominant males harass the others; plenty of rock caves and several females spread it out.
- They dig and move small plants and stones; use smooth sand.
Test the water first whenever fish look unwell: see what your readings mean, then match the symptom. For disease, a vet who treats fish can diagnose it and advise treatment.
More to compare
Sources
Name, origin and adult size checked against Wikipedia: Maylandia estherae. Temperature, pH, hardness, group size, lifespan and minimum tank size are common hobby guidance, not figures from that article. Ranges are the range the species tolerates; aim for the middle. Minimum tank sizes are for an adult group. Drawings are our own; photo credits follow.
Photo credits
Real photographs from Wikimedia Commons, resized and cropped to fit; each is used under the license named.
- Red zebra cichlid Maha Dinesh, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Electric blue hap The Evil Spartan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Auratus cichlid Vlad Butsky from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rusty cichlid Gerard Delany, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Yellow lab cichlid Julian Matz, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Acei cichlid Toby Hudson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Bumblebee cichlid Nicolas COUTHOUIS, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Blue dolphin cichlid Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Kenyi cichlid Ged (Wikimedia Commons), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Neon tetra Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Cardinal tetra CHUCAO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Black neon tetra Debivort, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Green neon tetra Sascha Biedermann, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
- Ember tetra Klaus Rudloff, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Glowlight tetra gonzalovalenzuela; cropped by Kyknos, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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