What fish can live with Red Zebra?

Red Zebra pairs well with Swordtail, Sailfin Molly, Buenos Aires Tetra, Three-Spot Gourami, Convict Cichlid, Denison's Barb. Compatibility depends on tank size, water parameters, and stocking density; the full list on this page ranks every checked pairing.

Species Profile

Red Zebra

Maylandia estherae

Cichlidsaggressive

Adult size

5″

Minimum tank

75 gal

Temperature

75–82°F

7.8–8.6

Schooling

Solitary OK

Water level

mid

Grows from juvenile

Typically sold at ~1.5″ and reaches 5″ over ~1 year. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.

Diet

Pellets, blanched veggies, herbivorous

Notes

Solid red-orange Mbuna (females in this morph; wild males are blue). Aggressive, males hold territory and chase relentlessly. Keep with similar-sized aggressive Mbuna. Overcrowding dilutes aggression.

Compatible Tankmates

Best tank mates for Red Zebra

Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Red Zebrain a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.