Red zebra cichlids are exquisite fish that make an eye-catching addition to any aquarium, attracting attention with their vibrant hues and bold personalities. Although these charismatic fish require special care to maintain their vibrant hues and vibrant coloration, for optimal success it is important that you provide an environment similar to Lake Malawi in which these beautiful specimens live, including spacious tanks with strategically placed rocks for them to live happily ever after.
As with other mbunas, red zebras can be quite aggressive and territorial fish; this aggression typically is directed at other males in an aquarium rather than other cichlid species. Maintaining an aquarium that includes both females and males will help minimize aggression towards other cichlids. Keeping these fish together in groups will reduce any aggression towards other cichlids.
Red zebra cichlids exhibit an affinity for rearrange substrate pebbles, small plants and other aquarium decor to maximize comfort in their aquarium environment. While this behavior is normal and beneficial for fish comfort in general, red zebra cichlids tend to do it much more often than other freshwater aquarium fish species.
Rift lake biomes provide ideal environments for red zebra cichlid fish to flourish, since their natural environment consists of rocks with sandy bottoms. To recreate this ecosystem in an aquarium setting, add medium to large rocks to provide hiding spaces for these aquatic inhabitants. You will also want to place one or more rock formations directly under a light source in order to promote algae growth, and ensure there are numerous caves within your tank for them.
