#Red zebra cichlid tankmates free#

Your tank should be deep and wide, so that it mimics the conditions of Lake Malawi. This means a minimum of four feet, but a larger tank would be even better. This means you’ll need a larger tank to accommodate the number and size of your mbuna cichlids.įifty-three gallons minimum is your best bet. Mbuna cichlids are definitely group fish, and they get bigger in captivity than they do in the wild.

There’s also the option of buying Malawi cichlid salt to add to the tank, so as to achieve the proper levels as well. It would be a good idea to also include lime-based or calcareous décor to keep the mineral levels of your tank high. People with very hard water will find that their mbuna cichlids will do very well in their tanks. Lake Malawi sits on atop an area with very active tectonic plates, meaning the lake is extremely rich in minerals, resulting in water with a high pH, GH (general hardness), and KH (carbonate hardness). By Maha Dinesh (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 licence) This means that you’ll need lots of biological and mechanical filtration.

#Red zebra cichlid tankmates free#

They come from a large lake, with clean water that’s rich in oxygen and free of pollutants. The mbuna thrive in water temperatures ranging from 77-84☏, with a pH level ranging from 7.5-8.4, and a ammonium nitrite and ammonia content as close to 0ppm (parts per million) as you can manage.Īnother requirement to their upkeep stems from the mbuna cichlid’s origins. Your mbuna tank requirements will, luckily, be fairly straightforward. It all depends on where you buy your fish and how vibrant you want their coloring to be. While not as cheap as goldfish, you can still get your money’s worth, as they range anywhere from $3.99 each to $23.99. You’re in luck! Mbuna Cichlids are some of the cheaper fish available on the market.

The most common mbuna cichlids are the red zebra cichlid, the blue zebra, the bumble or hornet cichlid, the golden cichlid, the electric yellow or yellow lab cichlid, and the blue johannii.įor other, more unique kinds, you’ll need to seek out a specialized breeder. Mbuna live in massive groups, and love rocky places to hide. Lake Malawi is an African Great Lake located in Tanzania, and is the ninth largest lake in the world. The mbuna (pronounced um-boo-nah) cichlids, also known as Mbuna African Cichlids, come from Lake Malawi. About the Mbuna Cichlid Where do Mbuna Cichlids Come From?