Moreover, to replicate their natural habitat, it would be best to let algae grow inside the tank. Be it lettuce, flakes, pellets, spinach, or even duckweed Red Zebra Cichlids have no problem eating an assortment of items. In aquariums, you can feed them a vegetable-based diet without any difficulty. Hence, aquarists should offer them several smaller meals throughout the day, which will also keep the tank water clean. Red Zebra Cichlids can devour a meal in under three minutes, and before you know it, they will be overweight. Now, don’t provide them with one large morsel because they gain weight very quickly. So, you can infuse their diet with small amounts of vitamins and proteins to keep them healthy. In the wild, they feed on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates. As mentioned, they like to graze among rocks and crevasses and will dig up the sandy floor in search of tasty morsels. Red Zebra Cichlids are omnivores and feed on both meat and plants as part of their diet.
That said, you should get a 50-gallon aquarium to house them, ensuring that they can go about their daily activities without any difficulty. In the wild, these fish are even smaller and reach a maximum length of 4 inches. Red Zebra Cichlids are small fish that don’t grow bigger than 5 inches. For example, the male fish has larger egg spots than the female, assuming bright red colors in the wild.Īlso, males are more territorial and aggressive towards other fish. FemaleĪlthough there’s not much difference between male and female Red Zebra Cichlids, there are a few stand-out features. Moreover, both the anal and dorsal fins are elongated and have yellow egg spots. Now, some varieties may have a thicker body, accompanied by a slightly larger forehead and a long tail fin. However, they don’t have stripes on their body, so the solid coloration makes them stand apart in the tank. They are primarily yellow but may also develop a blue or red coat in the wild. That’s why they have different names based on their appearance. Just like other African Cichlids, Red Zebra Cichlids are extremely attractive and change colors throughout their lives. Also, don’t keep too many fish in one tank, as it may stress them out and promote violent behavior. Usually, a 50-gallon tank will hold around 208 liters of water, ensuring that there’s enough room for the fish to swim around. However, it would help if you kept them in a 50-gallon tank at the very least to account for their territorial behavior. They don’t grow bigger than five inches, meaning these fish don’t need a lot of space. Moreover, it’s essential to maintain the water conditions between 7.8 and 8.6 pH by adding an appropriate sandy substrate. Red Zebra Cichlids are nibblers and tend to uproot plants, artificial or real, and may not do well in unfamiliar habitats. Like other Cichlids, they search for food on the lake’s sandy surface and in crevasses, scooping up tiny meals.Īs they are at home in a rocky environment with no vegetation, you need not add plants to the tank. These fish are at home in the rocky waters of Lake Malawi in Africa, dotted with caves, so that they have enough room to hide. Speaking of conditions, let’s discuss that next. However, in some cases, they may live shorter lives of 5 years, so their lifespan usually varies between five and ten years.Īnother essential factor is to provide the right water conditions, as these fish are highly sensitive.
How Long Do Red Zebra Cichlids Live?ĭepending upon the tank conditions, feeding habits, and how many fish you’re keeping in the aquarium, Red Zebra Cichlids can live up to a decade. You can find them prowling around the tank, protecting their territory. Moreover, Red Zebra Cichlids have a matriarchal family, so the female is hard to befriend, especially when she is about to lay eggs. They react violently towards other species as well as their own, meaning they are not friendly. Red Zebra Cichlids are highly aggressive on account of their territorial nature. Both the male and female fish have similar behavioral traits, so research before introducing them into home aquariums. While some fish are aggressive only during the mating season, Red Zebra Cichlid shows no lessening their ferocious behavior. Or you’ll need to place them in a separate tank. If you desire to keep docile and sociable fish in the tank, it would be best to avoid owning this species. Like most African Cichlids, the Red Zebra variant is no different, known for its semi-aggressive nature.
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