3x Zebra Cichlid "blue-red" - Pseudotropheus estherae - TRIO (2W/1M)

Endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa, the Blue Red Zebra Cichlid , also called Pseudotropheus estherae, Maylandia estherae or Metriaclima est herae, is one of the mbuna cichlids . In its habitat it inhabits the rock littoral. Altogether there are three color variants: one blue, one orange-red and also one spotted. The pretty animals make the hearts of Africa fans beat faster and give a beautiful sight in the aquarium. With its great appearance it is a popular aquarium fish, which enriches a Malawi aquarium wonderfully.

Our Red-Blue Zebra Cichlids are available as a trio with one male and two females.

Pseudotropheus estherae grows to about 11 cm in length, the females remain slightly smaller, both have the typical perch body. There is a striking difference in color between the sexes: the males have a blue base color when fully grown, and the females have a reddish-orange base color. The anal fins of the males also have so-called egg spots. The mouth has conspicuous lip bulges.

These mouthbrooders also reproduce in the aquarium. During the mating season, the animals intensify their colors, the males become territorial in places and take over caves. When spawning, the female releases her eggs onto flat substrates and then collects them with her mouth. Since she also mistakes the egg spot on the male's anal fin for an egg, this triggers her snapping reflex. At this moment, the male releases his sperm, fertilizing the eggs in the female's mouth. She releases fully developed young after about 20-35 days, occasionally still returning to her mouth for shelter.

Since the blue-red zebra cichlids can be quite territorial and aggressive within the species, it is recommended to keep them in pairs, better even in harems, therefore you can get our animals also as trio. Your aquarium should contain at least 300 liters and be well structured. This can be designed especially with stone structures and slates. It should be considered that the structure has enough hiding places. As substrate a fine sand is suitable, but also more slate plates to represent in places a rocky substrate, as the animals know it from their habitat. The planting plays a rather subordinate role with these herbivores and aufwuchsfressern and can with Aufsitzerpflanzen like Anubia, Bucephalandra or Java fern can be used. At a total hardness (GH) between 10 and 30 °dGH, as well as a pH-value of 7,5 and 8,5 these nicely drawn animals feel very well. The temperature may be 24-26 °C.

Pseudotropheus estherae socialize well with other Malawi chiclids. However, invertebrates and other fish should rather be avoided.

These herbivores are not choosy and can be fed quite easily in the aquarium with commercially available dry vegetable food in the form of flake food or granulated food, but also food tablets for herbivorous ornamental fish. Live and frozen food such as cyclops, daphnia or artemia may be offered to them from time to time, but the animals tend to overeat and thus become fat.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Cichfeed has a grain size of 1.5 mm and is therefore suitable for larger fish. The NH Cichfeed is a soft granulate for mainly carnivorous fish. It has the same consistency as small crustaceans and insect larvae that fish naturally eat, and the soft granules protect the fish's mouth from micro-injuries that can result from hard feed granules.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.