🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐡 Red Zebra Cichlid Maylandia estherae

Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae) — male
Male
Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae) — female
Female

The Red Zebra Cichlid (Maylandia estherae) is a easy-care, aggressive species from Lake Malawi. Adults reach roughly 5", so plan on a minimum tank of 55 gallons. Keep the water between 75–82°F with a pH of 7.8–8.6. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size5"
Minimum tank55 gallons
Temperature75–82°F
pH7.8–8.6
TemperamentAggressive
SchoolingNo
DietOmnivore
Care levelEasy
OriginLake Malawi

Good tankmates for Red Zebra Cichlid

This species is best kept in a species-only setup.

Avoid these tankmates

Neon TetraCardinal TetraRummynose TetraSerpae TetraGuppyEndler's LivebearerPlatyGerman Blue RamOscarZebra DanioHarlequin RasboraChili RasboraCherry BarbWhite Cloud MinnowBronze CoryPanda CoryOtocinclusCherry ShrimpAmano ShrimpNerite SnailMystery SnailMarble HatchetfishEmber TetraBlack Neon TetraLemon TetraGlowlight TetraBloodfin TetraDiamond TetraEmperor TetraSilver Tip TetraX-Ray TetraGreen Neon TetraCelestial Pearl DanioLambchop RasboraPearl DanioGlowlight DanioCheckerboard BarbFive-Banded BarbNeon Dwarf RainbowfishThreadfin RainbowfishHoney GouramiSparkling GouramiChocolate GouramiParadise FishJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaMultifasciatusPygmy CorySterbai CoryJulii CoryHillstream LoachChinese Algae EaterDwarf PufferfishBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirLeast KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowGhost ShrimpCrystal Red ShrimpAssassin SnailRamshorn SnailMalaysian Trumpet SnailGold TetraPenguin TetraFlame TetraGalaxy RasboraPhoenix RasboraEmerald Eye RasboraAxelrod's RasboraLeopard DanioGold Ring DanioRuby BarbMelon BarbForktail Blue-eyeLicorice GouramiCroaking GouramiPeaceful BettaStrawberry BettaGolden RamBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornYellow Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidShell-DwellerAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryAdolfo's CoryHabrosus CoryZebra OtoDwarf Chain LoachBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond ShrimpBumblebee ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishClown KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

See the full tankmate guide for Red Zebra Cichlid →