Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid

True to its name because it is a consistent blue but without the light zebra banding, the Cobalt Blue Zebra originated in deep rocky waters of Lake Malawi in Africa. It is also known as the Cobalt Blue Mbuna and the Cobalt Zebra. The scientific name is Metriaclima callainos.. The word "Mbuna" stands for "rock fish", which refers to its chosen environment. The Cobalt Blue Zebra has a light blue color applied consistently over the entire body with no faint zebra banding. Other African zebra color variations include the Pearl Zebra, which is a pearl white color, the Red or Cherry Zebra, which is red/orange and the Orange Blotch or OB, which has black blotches on a pink/orange background. In the Cobalt Blue Zebra, there are eggs spots on the anal fin, which become important during breeding. Females are a lighter gray/blue.

Aquarium Care: A hygienic environment in terms of clean water and proper pH are important in maintaining an Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid tank. Although some recommend using underground filters, external filters and bio-wheels simultaneously to maintain quality, practical experience shows that underground filters are not suitable for mbunas. Quite enterprising, these fish build nests by picking up rocks in their mouth and moving them, so underground filters are quickly exposed in an mbuna tank. There should be smooth surfaced gravel for them to pick up in their mouths and move. Mbunas enjoy plants, but will uproot them because they constantly rearrange the substrate.Cobalt Blue Zebra Cichlid tend to take themselves very seriously and avoid intermingling with other species so they should only be kept with other mbunas, A grouping including more than 10 mbunas is recommended as this will spread out aggressive behavior. The tank should be 75-100 gallons and should have rocks and hiding spaces to give respite to potential victims. Cobalt Blue Zebras will eat flake foods, spirulina flakes and cichlid pellets. They should not be fed live worms or live brine shrimp, as these can bloat and kill the fish.

Breeding: First and foremost, arrange a harem for the male! A male Zebra Cichlid should be kept with several females. The Zebra is a mouth brooder and the spawning process is exhausting to say the least. The male will establish a territory and its colors bloom when it is ready to breed. A female that is ready to spawn will then enter the territory and the two will interact aggressively. After spawning, the female keeps the eggs in her mouth for about a week until they hatch. After that, the fry will seek safety by retreating into the female’s mouth for up to a month. During this period, the female rarely eats. Once the fry are able to fend for themselves, the female stops allowing them in her mouth. The entire process is quite stressful for the female, so a separate tank for her during this period is recommended.