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No federal permit to keep

Zebra mbuna

Maylandia zebra

Also known as Zebra Malawi Cichlid

Fishes › Cichlids (Cichliformes) › Cichlidae (Cichlids)

The zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa.

Aquarium hobby

Experience: Easy

FamilyCichlids

Adult lengthup to 6 in

WaterFreshwater

HabitatLives in freshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 4.4 in / 11.3 cm).
Water: Freshwater.
Temperature: 72–82°F (range recorded for this species).
pH: 8–8.
Hardness: 9–19 dGH.
Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
Diet: A grazer on plants and algae: base the diet on vegetable foods (algae wafers, blanched vegetables, spirulina). FishBase classes it as a omnivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

Tank: a base of at least 47 × 15 in (roughly 54 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
Water: hard, alkaline water, 72–82 °F, pH 7.6–8.6, 10–25 dGH.
Behaviour: temperament territorial.
Difficulty: Moderate (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

Setup: “Keep it in a typical Malawi setup, with much of the tank filled with piles of rock arranged to form lots of caves and crevices.”
Diet: “It will accept most foods offered but as with most Mbuna vegetable matter should form the basis of the diet.”
Tankmates: “One of the more aggressive species of Mbuna, the Zebra is in no way suitable for the general tropical aquarium.”
Breeding: “It's a maternal mouthbrooder that utilises a similar breeding strategy to others in the genus.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Lake Malawi mbuna

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Rocky shores of Lake Malawi. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Housing & setup

Hard, alkaline water (pH 7.8–8.6) and lots of stacked rock with caves; a long tank (often 4 ft+).
Keep in crowded groups of one male to several females per species, to spread aggression.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Climate & lighting

Water

76–82°F

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Diet

Choose diet by mbuna species. The L. caeruleus profile offers vegetable foods alongside live or frozen foods; do not impose a universal ban on animal protein.
Feed small amounts once or twice a day.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Social life

Territorial; overstock mbuna-only tanks rather than mixing with peaceful fish.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Health watch

Monitor water quality, feeding and aggression. Do not present dietary protein alone as a confirmed diagnosis or universal cause of abdominal swelling.

Sources 117 119 164 118 255

Understanding the animal

About this animal

This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm (4.4 in). It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks.

Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Zebra mbuna” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.¹

Where it lives	Lives in freshwater, in lakes. Stays near the bottom. Found in rocky areas which may be sediment-free and shallow or sediment-rich at somewhat deeper levels. Feeds at right angles with the substrate by combing loose material from the biocover. Also feeds on plankton in the open water.
Water it lives in	Freshwater, 72–82 °F (22–28 °C), pH 8–8, hardness 9–19 dH, depth 6–28 m.
Climate	Tropical climate.
Wild diet	Grazing on aquatic plants. Troph of juv./adults from 4 studies.
Behavior to plan for	Breeding: external brooders.

What this means for care

Keep water within its wild range, 72–82 °F.

FishBase species summary: Maylandia zebra

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highs	about 86°F (up to 88°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lows	about 60°F (down to 55°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature	70–76°F across sampled records
Relative humidity	67–70% on average (driest month about 56%)
Rainfall	about 1210 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons

Measured at 25 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Overview	The zebra mbuna (Maylandia zebra) is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. This species can reach a length of 11.3 cm. It feeds on aufwuchs, a surface layer of mostly algal material that grows on rocks. This cichlid is a mouthbrooder and the female broods the eggs in her mouth for about three weeks. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Where it lives	Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
Appearance and size	The zebra mbuna has a single dorsal fin with sixteen to nineteen spines and seven to ten soft rays. The anal fin has three to four spines and six to nine soft rays. It grows to a maximum length of 11.3 cm SL. — Wikipedia (community-edited)
Biology	Adults are found in rocky areas which may be sediment-free and shallow or sediment-rich at somewhat deeper levels. They feed at right angles with the substrate by combing loose material from the biocover. Also feed on plankton in the open water. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources5.2in

FishBase 1644.4

Seriously Fish species profiles 1676

Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources72–82°F

FishBase 16472–82

Seriously Fish species profiles 16772–82

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources7.8–8.3

FishBase 1648

Seriously Fish species profiles 1677.6–8.6

Water hardness

Average of sources9.5–22dGH

FishBase 1649–19

Seriously Fish species profiles 16710–25

Minimum tank footprint

Reported47in

Seriously Fish species profiles 16747

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 47 × 15 in (about 54 US gallons).

Federal legal snapshot

No federal permit to keep

No federal law singles out this species for private keepers. State and local rules still apply.

State law decides most of it. Each state sets its own permits and bans for exotic, native, venomous and dangerous animals, and cities and counties can be stricter. Find your state agency →

Not covered by the Animal Welfare Act

The Act only covers warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates have no federal care standards, even at licensed facilities; state and local rules may still apply.

Kept in captivity?

Every species on this site needs evidence that people actually keep it. For this one:

Has a Seriously Fish aquarium species profile
FishBase records it in the aquarium trade (Aquarium=highly commercial; AquariumFishII=based mainly on breeding; aquarium reproduction record)
21 iNaturalist observations of captive animals

Sources for this sheet

FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
Seriously Fish — Labidochromis caeruleus Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.