OB Red Zebra Mbuna (Maylandia zebra)

OB Red Zebra Mbuna is the supplier's orange-blotch colour form of Maylandia zebra, a territorial rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Malawi. OB means orange blotch: dark melanin markings are concentrated into irregular patches over an orange, yellow, cream or pale background. Every fish can develop a different arrangement, so blotch size, base colour, sex and final appearance are not guaranteed.

This is an aggressive mbuna for a mature, large, hard-water aquarium, not a general community fish and certainly not reptile live food. Care must be planned around adult size, territory, group structure, filtration and a separation option.

OB Red Zebra Mbuna quick facts

Customer name	OB Red Zebra Mbuna
Current scientific name	Maylandia zebra (Boulenger, 1899)
Supplier / alternative names	Pseudotropheus zebra red OB; Metriaclima zebra is also widely used
Meaning of OB	Orange blotch, a variable dark-blotch phenotype over orange, yellow, cream or pale ground colour
Origin	Lake Malawi at species level; exact locality is not supplied for this stock
Care level	Moderate to advanced
Temperament	Aggressive territorial mbuna
Published maximum	11.3cm standard length; plan for approximately 13-14cm total length
Recommended aquarium	300L+ and around 120cm long for a planned group; 400L+ for a complex mbuna community
Temperature	24-26C as a stable routine range
pH	Approximately 7.8-8.6
General hardness	Approximately 9-19 dGH
Diet	Aufwuchs-focused omnivore with a plant-rich staple and modest animal protein
Breeding	Maternal mouthbrooder
Selection	Size option only; exact pattern, sex and locality are not guaranteed

What will I receive?

Select one live fish from the available 3-4cm, 4-5cm, 5-6cm or XL option. These are dispatch-size grades, not adult size or sex promises. XL is a supplier grade rather than a precise centimetre band, so ask for current guidance if an exact measurement is essential.

All four options are unsexed. OB expression is often associated with female-linked sex-determination systems in Lake Malawi cichlids, but OB males occur and appearance cannot provide a retail sex guarantee. A customer ordering several juveniles cannot assume a one-male-to-three-female group.

Every fish should be expected to differ from the gallery. Base colour may range through orange, yellow, cream and pale tones; blotches can be sparse, dense, small or broad; fins may carry grey, black, blue or pale markings. Pattern can change as a juvenile grows.

Correct identity: Maylandia zebra

The original species was described as Tilapia zebra. It later appeared in Pseudotropheus, then in the competing genus names Metriaclima and Maylandia. Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes, updated 10 June 2026, currently lists Maylandia zebra as valid. FishBase follows that treatment.

The naming debate is not imaginary. Recent authors continue to argue about the availability and diagnosis of Maylandia versus Metriaclima. For customers and search systems, the sensible approach is to use the current Catalog name as primary and explain the alternatives once, rather than stuffing all three genera into every heading.

The supplier's phrase “Pseudotropheus zebra red OB” maps toward the M. zebra complex, not automatically to Maylandia estherae. Google results often use OB Red Zebra for M. estherae, but this record provides no evidence for changing the stock to that different species. This page therefore does not make that substitution.

What does OB mean?

OB means orange blotch. Dark pigment is gathered into irregular patches rather than arranged as a normal barred pattern. Research identifies increased Pax7 expression associated with the phenotype and connects the trait to sex-determination evolution in Lake Malawi cichlids.

OB is not one fixed paint scheme. Scientific work documents orange, orange-blotch, white and white-blotch expression across multiple mbuna species and populations. A trade label cannot reveal the exact genotype, locality or purity of an unproven commercial line.

Term	Meaning	What it does not guarantee
OB	Orange-blotch phenotype	One exact pattern or species
O	Orange or pale form with few obvious blotches	Female sex or a separate species
WB	White-blotch descriptive form	Locality or breeding purity
Red OB Zebra	Aquarium supplier/trade phrase	M. estherae, M. zebra locality or exact adult colour without records

How to read the preserved gallery

The four gallery images show bright orange fish with bold black blotches in driftwood, paired, plain-background and planted scenes. The individuals look unusually similar in body, eye and blotch structure, which is inconsistent with the unique-pattern promise expected from genuine OB variation.

The images are therefore illustrative. They communicate an orange-black OB concept, not the exact fish, sex, locality or mature pattern. The pair scene is not a sexed pair, and the plant scene is not proof that an aggressive mbuna will leave a planted aquarium undisturbed.

Gallery view	Useful information	Limit
Driftwood hero	General orange-black trade appearance	Wood is not the core rocky Malawi habitat and pattern is not guaranteed
Two-fish scene	Illustrates more than one OB fish	Not a pair, sex ratio or compatibility guarantee
Plain side profile	Clear view of an illustrative blotched body	Not a current supplier stock photograph
Planted scene	Shows colour against green plants	Not a plant-safety or aquascape recommendation

Natural distribution and habitat

Maylandia zebra is endemic to Lake Malawi. FishBase records it from rocky habitat at depths around 6-28m, including shallow sediment-free zones and deeper areas with more sediment. Adults feed against the substrate by combing loose material from biocover and also take plankton in open water.

This ecology supports a rock-based aquarium with open water and fine sand rather than dense wood or delicate planting. Stable hard alkaline water, high oxygen and mature grazing surfaces are more important than copying a fictional exact locality.

No location is attached to this supplier stock. Do not market or breed it as a named reef, island or shore population. Locality records matter because colour, morphology and genetics vary around Lake Malawi.

Adult size and growth

FishBase records 11.3cm standard length, which excludes the caudal fin. For aquarium planning, allow approximately 13-14cm total length. Individual size varies with sex, lineage, food and conditions.

Delivery size is temporary. A 3-4cm juvenile needs the adult aquarium immediately, because hierarchy and territory develop before full size. The larger size options may establish dominance more quickly when added to smaller fish.

Growth should be steady rather than forced with excessive protein. Overfeeding increases waste, body mass and digestive risk without improving welfare. Track body condition, not just length.

Tank size and footprint

We recommend at least 300 litres and around 120cm length for a planned group. A complex mixed-mbuna aquarium should start around 400 litres and preferably 150cm length, with many visual barriers. The old 200L minimum leaves too little margin for an aggressive adult group.

Stocking aim	Space	Notes
Species-focused planned group	300L+ / about 120cm	Unsexed juveniles still require a separation plan
Complex mixed-mbuna community	400L+ / preferably 150cm	Match diet, adult size and aggression
One fish in a community	Not the preferred plan	May become dominant or remain chronically stressed
Pair or trio in 200L	Not recommended	Aggression can concentrate on one subordinate fish

Do not use “overstocking” as permission to exceed filtration and oxygen capacity. Managed density can change how aggression is distributed, but it also increases waste, disease transmission and maintenance demand. Space, zoning and removal options remain essential.

Group size and sex planning

A one-male-to-three-female ratio is commonly suggested for breeding groups, but these retail options are not sexed. It is a management target, not a guarantee. Multiple males may emerge from a juvenile group and require more space or separation.

Begin with a group only if the aquarium can hold every fish as an adult. Watch whether each fish can feed, enter more than one refuge and cross the aquarium without continuous pursuit. Persistent hiding, dark stress colour, a pinched belly or surface confinement means intervention is needed.

Do not add one tiny juvenile to an established adult mbuna aquarium without assessing mouth size and aggression. Use a divider or separate cycled grow-out system where appropriate.

Rockwork and aquarium layout

Build stable rock structures with caves, passages and broken sight lines. Place heavy rocks on a protected base before adding sand so digging cannot undermine them. Avoid narrow traps and unstable piles.

Leave open lanes for swimming and feeding. Several separate rock zones are more useful than one central mound controlled by a dominant fish. Use fine sand or smooth small gravel that does not damage the mouth during grazing and excavation.

Plants are optional. Anubias, Java fern and some Vallisneria may survive if secured and compatible with hard water, but no plant-safety guarantee applies. The fish may dig, graze or uproot them.

Water parameters

Parameter	Routine target	Management
Temperature	24-26C	Stable; FishBase's wider 22-28C range is not a daily target
pH	Approximately 7.8-8.6	Maintain with natural buffering, not rapid corrections
GH	Approximately 9-19 dGH	Match Malawi hard-water companions
KH	Useful carbonate stability	Protects against sudden pH decline
Ammonia	0 mg/L	Toxic and more dangerous at high pH
Nitrite	0 mg/L	Any detectable level requires action
Nitrate	Keep low and stable	Control through stocking, feeding and water changes

Test source water before adding Rift Lake salts. Prepare remineralised replacement water separately and consistently. Evaporation leaves minerals behind, so do not add a full salt dose with every top-up.

Filtration and oxygen

Use mature biological filtration rated above the aquarium's nominal size and strong surface movement. Mbuna groups create substantial waste, and warm hard water still requires good oxygenation.

Direct flow so debris reaches the intake without creating one exhausting current. Clean mechanical media before it blocks, but preserve biological media and never sterilise the whole filter at once.

Perform regular matched water changes based on nitrate trend, feeding and stocking. A fixed percentage is less important than consistent low waste and stable chemistry.

Natural diet and aquarium feeding

Maylandia zebra combs loose material from biocover and also takes plankton. It is more accurate to describe it as an aufwuchs-focused omnivore than a strict herbivore. The aquarium staple should remain plant-rich and fibre-supported.

Use a quality spirulina or algae-rich complete mbuna pellet or flake. Rotate with other complete vegetable-supported foods, occasional blanched courgette or spinach and modest small portions of daphnia, brine shrimp or mysis.

Food	Role	Use
Spirulina-rich mbuna pellet or flake	Staple	Choose a size every fish can swallow
Plant-supported granule or algae wafer	Variety	Distribute across the group
Blanched vegetable	Occasional fibre-rich supplement	Remove leftovers promptly
Daphnia, brine shrimp or mysis	Modest animal-protein variety	Small occasional portions
Feeder fish, crickets, fatty meat or heavy bloodworm	Unsuitable	Do not use as routine food

Feeding routine and body condition

Feed modest portions once or twice daily and spread food over a broad area. A dominant fish should not control one feeding point. Remove excess before it settles deep in rockwork.

Check each fish from above and the side. A healthy fish should not have a pinched abdomen, persistent swelling or rapid heavy growth. Refusal, long abnormal faeces or bloating needs water and diet review rather than another meal.

Aggression and hierarchy

This is an aggressive mbuna. Males may defend rock zones and females may also chase. OB colour does not make the fish gentler. Aggression can increase with maturity, spawning, cramped territory and incompatible neighbours.

Short displays and retreats can be normal. Continuous pursuit across the aquarium, torn fins, surface confinement or loss of feeding access is not. Use the separation plan immediately rather than waiting for severe injury.

Tank mates

Choose similarly robust Lake Malawi mbuna with compatible adult size, plant-rich diet and aggression. A Yellow Lab Cichlid can be considered in a large structured aquarium, but no combination is automatically safe.

Avoid peaceful haps, delicate peacocks, small community fish, shrimp and soft-water species. Avoid another Zebra form where hybridisation or uncertain fry would be a problem. Similar colour can also provoke conflict.

Zebra Mbuna form comparison

Listing	Supplier/form label	Selection warning
Blue OB Masinje Zebra	Named Blue OB Masinje form	Keep locality/form lines separate
Gold Mundola Point Zebra	Gold locality-associated form	Do not merge with red OB stock
Blue Zebra	Blue supplier form	Different colour promise and possible provenance
Zebra South Red + Red	Red-form supplier line	Not identical to OB pattern
Red + Blue Zebra	Red-blue supplier form	Do not assume same sex or colour genetics

These names are not decorative options on one proven locality product. Keep forms separate when breeding and retain invoices and source records with fry.

Sexing OB Zebra Mbuna

OB is often associated with females in natural populations because colour and sex-determination loci can be linked, but OB males are scientifically documented. Egg spots, colour brightness and body size do not provide an absolute juvenile sex test.

This product is sold by size only. Do not order one orange fish and assume female, or one heavily blotched fish and assume male. Experienced venting of mature fish may improve confidence but involves handling and is not a guarantee offered here.

Maternal mouthbrooding

Maylandia zebra is a maternal mouthbrooder. After spawning, the female carries eggs and developing fry in her mouth. FishBase reports clutches up to around 60 eggs, but actual brood size varies with female size and condition.

A brooding female may eat little and can lose condition. Do not isolate or strip her without understanding the risks. Provide a mature recovery system and protect released fry from adults and filter intakes.

Never distribute uncertain commercial fry as a named locality. Avoid crossing this line with M. estherae, other Zebra forms or unknown OB cichlids.

Arrival and acclimation

Prepare the mature hard-water aquarium before dispatch. Read the current Tropical Fish Co acclimation instructions, match temperature and avoid an unattended long drip after the bag is opened.

Reduce lighting and introduce the fish near several refuges. Do not feed heavily on arrival. Observe breathing, balance and the response of established residents.

Retain packaging and take clear evidence within the published live-arrival window if there is a concern.

Quarantine

Quarantine in a fully cycled, heated, hard alkaline aquarium with secure rock refuges. Use dedicated equipment and never pour shipping water into the display.

Observe appetite, skin, fins, respiration and faeces. Diagnose before medication because white spot, bacterial injury, internal problems and water-quality stress require different responses.

First 90 days

Period	Priority	Record
Arrival day	Controlled acclimation and safe refuge	Breathing, balance, wounds and delivery evidence
Days 2-7	Confirm feeding and zero ammonia/nitrite	Foods accepted, waste and aggression
Weeks 2-4	Assess hierarchy and body condition	Chasing, hiding, fin damage and weight
Months 2-3	Set adult stocking and maintenance	Growth, sex clues, nitrate and territory use

Health warning signs

• Rapid breathing, gasping or remaining at the surface
• Clamped fins, loss of balance or persistent isolation
• Pinched belly, refusal of normal food or abnormal faeces
• Persistent swelling rather than a recently fed abdomen
• White spots, excess mucus, flashing or rubbing
• Torn fins, wounds or inability to leave a refuge

Test water first. High-pH ammonia, nitrite, low oxygen and aggression can cause disease-like signs. Seek experienced aquatic-veterinary help for severe or persistent problems.

Maintenance routine

Frequency	Task	Purpose
Daily	Observe feeding, hierarchy, breathing and equipment	Find exclusion and illness early
Weekly	Test as needed and change matched water	Control nitrate without chemistry shock
As required	Clean mechanical media and accessible debris	Maintain flow while preserving biological media
Monthly	Review rock stability, growth and adult biomass	Prevent juvenile stocking becoming adult overcrowding
After every addition	Reassess territories and food access	Hierarchy changes when stocking changes

How OB colour can develop

Juvenile pattern is not a final adult photograph. Base colour can intensify, pale or shift as chromatophores develop, while dark blotches may become more or less distinct. Social rank, breeding condition, stress, diet, background and lighting affect what the keeper sees at any one moment.

A newly delivered fish can look muted after transport. Judge recovery from breathing, balance, appetite and gradual return of normal behaviour before judging colour. Brightening the light or feeding colour-enhancing food cannot create a genetically absent pattern and may stress a fish that still needs refuge.

OB does not require every blotch to be jet black or every background to be vivid red. Some genuine fish have irregular grey, brown or blue-black marks over orange, yellow or cream. Others approach an O morph with relatively little visible blotching. The supplier's “red OB” wording is therefore a broad commercial description.

Observation	Possible explanation	Appropriate response
Pale after delivery	Transport stress or subdued juvenile colour	Provide stable water and quiet cover; do not force colour
Blotches become clearer with age	Normal pigment development	Photograph changes and retain source records
Very few dark marks	Light OB or O-like expression	Do not assume wrong species from colour alone
One fish matches the gallery poorly	Expected individual variation or gallery limitation	Use the selection disclosure, not the illustration, as the promise
Sudden darkening and hiding	Stress, hierarchy or water problem	Test water and inspect aggression before changing lighting

Maylandia, Metriaclima and Pseudotropheus

The three genus names reflect a long-running nomenclatural and diagnostic debate, not three different care species in this product. Pseudotropheus zebra is the older broad placement still used by Petra. Metriaclima was described for the zebra complex in a major 1997 revision. Maylandia has priority in the Catalog of Fishes treatment currently followed here.

Some 2026 taxonomic authors continue to argue that Maylandia was not made available correctly and that Metriaclima should be used. Other analyses conclude that Maylandia is available and has priority. This is why a high-quality page should date its decision and cite the authority instead of claiming the debate never existed.

The customer title uses Maylandia zebra because that is the current Catalog and FishBase combination on the review date. The metafields and FAQs retain the alternatives for search understanding. Future editors should recheck the Catalog before changing the genus and should never infer a species change from a genus debate alone.

Why this is not automatically a Red Zebra Maylandia estherae

The common name Red Zebra most often points to Maylandia estherae in aquarium retail. That species has orange/red and blue colour forms, and OB individuals occur in some populations. Search results therefore strongly associate OB Red Zebra with M. estherae.

Petra's actual line, however, is consistently recorded across four size grades as Pseudotropheus zebra red OB. The prior site record also calls it Maylandia zebra. No supplier image, locality, DNA or diagnostic morphology supports replacing those records with M. estherae. Doing so merely because competitors rank for the other species would be SEO-led misidentification.

The page keeps the exact conflict visible. If the supplier later supplies a verified stock photograph and provenance showing M. estherae, the product can be reviewed. Until then, the title uses the supplier-supported M. zebra identity and avoids a false locality.

Forming a group from unsexed juveniles

Buying four fish does not create a guaranteed harem. At small sizes, external sexing is uncertain, OB males are possible, and siblings can mature at different rates. A group may contain multiple males or one especially dominant female. The aquarium and backup plan must account for all outcomes.

Introduce a juvenile group together where practical, after quarantine, rather than adding one small fish to an established hierarchy. Arrange several distinct rock territories and feed in multiple locations. Observe the group daily during maturation because behaviour that was calm at 4cm can change at 8-10cm.

Do not add more fish automatically when aggression appears. Additional stocking can sometimes distribute attention, but it also consumes adult space and increases waste. First identify whether the problem is one incompatible fish, insufficient footprint, a single dominant cave or a poor species mix.

Keep written records for each fish where possible. Photographs of both sides help track unique OB markings and injuries. Individual recognition makes it easier to see which fish is not feeding or which one repeatedly causes damage.

Common aggression scenarios

Scenario	What it indicates	Response
Short chase followed by separation	Normal boundary or hierarchy display	Continue observing food and refuge access
One fish patrols the entire aquarium	Insufficient zoning or dominant individual	Separate or redesign in a larger footprint
Subordinate remains above the rocks	No safe territory	Intervene immediately; do not wait for injury
Repeated mouth locking	Escalated dominance contest	Use the divider or second cycled tank
Female harassed while mouthbrooding	Breeding pressure and poor refuge	Follow the planned brooding-female strategy
New fish is attacked on introduction	Established hierarchy rejects the addition	Remove it; do not rely only on lights-off introduction

Rearranging rockwork can interrupt territory temporarily, but it is not a cure for an undersized aquarium or incompatible fish. Every rock move must preserve structural stability and biological filtration. Never dismantle the tank while leaving fish exposed to falling rock.

Preparing hard alkaline replacement water

Measure source pH, GH and KH after aeration. Fresh tap water can change as dissolved gases leave, so a reading taken immediately from the tap may not represent water entering the aquarium. Local water-company reports provide useful context but do not replace aquarium testing.

If source water is too soft, use a measured Malawi remineralising product in a separate clean container. Mix fully, bring temperature close to the aquarium and verify the result before use. Record the dose and actual container volume. Never add concentrated salts directly over fish.

Evaporation removes water but leaves most minerals behind. Top up evaporation with appropriate low-mineral water, then replace minerals during planned water changes. Adding a full salt dose to every top-up causes gradual hardness and conductivity creep.

Do not use coral, limestone and commercial buffers all at once without understanding their combined effect. Choose a repeatable system and trend it over time. Stable pH 8.0 is preferable to oscillating between the extremes of a published range.

Digestive health and Malawi bloat caution

Loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, pale stringy faeces and withdrawal are often collectively called Malawi bloat, but those signs can arise from diet, stress, parasites, bacteria or water quality. A label is not a diagnosis. Test water and review hierarchy and recent feeding first.

Prevention centres on a suitable plant-rich complete diet, modest portions, low chronic aggression, clean water and quarantine. Large rich meals, repeated bloodworm and feeder fish are unnecessary. Fibre-supported food does not mean starving the fish or excluding all animal protein from an omnivorous grazing ecology.

Move a seriously affected fish to an appropriate hospital aquarium only when the move can be performed safely. Match hard-water conditions and oxygenation. Obtain aquatic-veterinary guidance for severe swelling, loss of balance, rapid breathing or repeated group cases.

Breeding ethics and provenance

The genetics that make OB fish visually striking also make accurate records important. Do not cross this uncertain commercial line with a verified reef population, M. estherae, an OB peacock or another zebra-complex product. Fry may look attractive while losing every defensible identity.

A brooding female should not be stripped simply to maximise fry numbers. Stripping requires skill, correct timing and a mature grow-out system. Natural release may be safer in a well-designed breeding aquarium, while a busy community may consume fry. Decide the method before spawning occurs.

Grow-out tanks need the same mature filtration and stable mineral chemistry as the adult tank. Fry require fine complete foods and frequent small meals without accumulating waste. Plan homes before producing repeated broods.

When rehoming offspring, disclose the parents as commercial OB Maylandia zebra stock with unverified locality. Do not upgrade them to a named wild form based on colour resemblance or a social-media identification.

Long-term welfare

This page does not promise a fixed eight-year lifespan because longevity evidence varies, but a well-kept mbuna is a multi-year commitment. The adult aquarium, filtration, hard-water preparation and aggression management must remain sustainable after juvenile colour and novelty have passed.

Older or subordinate fish may need food distributed closer to refuge. Watch for gradual weight loss, mouth damage, clouded eyes and reduced swimming strength. Investigate rather than assuming all decline is age.

Never release fish, fry, plants or aquarium water into natural waterways. Rehome responsibly and disclose uncertain provenance. Clean and dry equipment before it moves between unrelated systems.

Buyer checklist

• The aquarium is mature, covered and at least 300L/120cm for a planned group.
• A complex mbuna community has 400L+ and preferably 150cm length.
• Water is stable at 24-26C, pH 7.8-8.6 and about 9-19 dGH.
• Ammonia and nitrite are zero.
• Rockwork is stable with several broken lines of sight.
• Tank mates share the hard-water chemistry, diet and aggression level.
• A divider, spare cycled tank or rehoming option is available.
• You accept that sex, locality and exact OB pattern are not guaranteed.
• You understand the gallery is illustrative, not current stock photography.
• You have read the current delivery and acclimation terms.

Why buy from Tropical Fish Co?

Live fish are prepared for tracked UK delivery under the current Tropical Fish Co live-arrival terms. Eligible first-time customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order. Check current delivery areas, dispatch days, evidence requirements and acclimation instructions before ordering.

Browse the Lake Malawi and Victoria cichlid collection to compare adult size, diet, form provenance and aggression before choosing tank mates.

OB Red Zebra Mbuna FAQs

What is the valid scientific name?

The June 2026 Catalog of Fishes uses Maylandia zebra. Metriaclima zebra and Pseudotropheus zebra are important alternative names in scientific and aquarium literature.

Is this the same as Maylandia estherae?

Not proven. The supplier identifies this stock as Pseudotropheus zebra red OB, mapping to M. zebra. OB Red Zebra is also used for M. estherae online, so this page does not silently substitute that species.

What does OB mean?

OB means orange blotch, a variable pigment phenotype with dark irregular blotches over orange, yellow, cream or pale ground colour.

Will my fish match the image?

No exact match is guaranteed. Petra provides no stock photo and every OB fish can develop a different pattern. The four preserved images are illustrative.

How large does Maylandia zebra grow?

FishBase records 11.3cm standard length. Plan for approximately 13-14cm total length with the tail included.

What tank size is required?

Use at least 300 litres and about 120cm length for a planned group. A complex mixed-mbuna community should have 400 litres or more and preferably 150cm length.

Are OB Zebra Mbuna aggressive?

Yes. This is an aggressive territorial mbuna. OB colour does not reduce aggression, and a separation plan is required.

Does OB mean female?

No. OB is often sex-associated in wild populations, but OB males occur. These size options are unsexed.

What do Zebra Mbuna eat?

Use a plant-rich complete mbuna food as the staple, with vegetable-supported variety and modest occasional daphnia, brine shrimp or mysis.

Can they live with peacock cichlids?

That is not a default recommendation. Diet and aggression can conflict. Any mix needs a large aquarium, species-level planning and close monitoring.

How do they breed?

They are maternal mouthbrooders. The female carries eggs and fry in her mouth and needs protection from excessive harassment.

Does the live-arrival guarantee apply?

Yes, under the current Tropical Fish Co terms when the published delivery, evidence and acclimation conditions are followed.

Evidence and further reading

• Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: valid Maylandia zebra record
• FishBase: size, distribution, habitat, water and feeding evidence
• Science: Pax7, OB colour and sex-determination conflict
• Chromosome inversion and the Lake Malawi sex/colour supergene

Live fish vary naturally. The supplier provides no locality or current stock photograph. This page uses Maylandia zebra as the evidence-led identity while disclosing uncertainty over commercial line, sex and OB pattern.