CheckMyFishTank

Red Zebra Cichlid care

Maylandia estherae · Freshwater · Intermediate level care

Red Zebra Cichlid, painted illustration

A common mbuna that is hardy but aggressive.

Smallest tank55 gallons
Adult size5 inches
Temperature75 to 82°F
pH7.8 to 8.6
GroupFine on its own
TemperamentAggressive
SwimsBottom of the tank
Lives8 to 10 years
Watch for: Aggressive in small groups, so use a big tank with many rocks.

Feeding

Once a day. A small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish. Cichlid pellets, spirulina flakes, vegetables.

Claims a territory and guards it.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Red Zebra Cichlid in a 110 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Blue GouramiConvict CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidBlue Peacock CichlidCobalt Blue ZebraCuckoo SynodontisElectric Blue HapFiremouth CichlidJack DempseyJulie Cichlid

Do not mix with

  • Neon Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Neon Tetra.
  • Cardinal Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Cardinal Tetra.
  • Green Neon Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Green Neon Tetra.
  • Black Neon Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Black Neon Tetra.
  • Ember Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Ember Tetra.
  • Lemon Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Lemon Tetra.
  • Glowlight Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Glowlight Tetra.
  • Black Skirt Tetra: Red Zebra Cichlid is aggressive and will bully peaceful Black Skirt Tetra.

Questions

What size tank does a Red Zebra Cichlid need?

At least 55 gallons. Adults grow to about 5 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Red Zebra Cichlid like?

75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 7.8 to 8.6. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Red Zebra Cichlid should I keep together?

One is fine. If you keep more, keep one male, since males fight each other.

What do Red Zebra Cichlid eat?

Cichlid pellets, spirulina flakes, vegetables. Feed once a day: a small pinch they finish in about 2 minutes, a little more for bigger fish.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.