They can be fed crushed flake flood once they are free-swimming. After about three weeks, the female will release her fry. It is believed that the eggs spots on the fins of many males can confuse the females into thinking that those spots are eggs and encourage her to stimulate the males. She will then scoop up the eggs into her mouth and stimulate the male to fertilize the eggs in her mouth. The female will usually lay about twenty or thirty eggs on a flat surface in the male’s territory. If you don’t see your fish breeding, it may be due to aggression in their tank, so you may need to create a more peaceful environment to encourage mating. They can be conditioned by feeding more frequently, but it usually isn’t necessary to encourage a spawn. OB Zebras will be sexually mature at around 7.5cm. Males and females can be slightly difficult to tell apart depending on the strain. If conditions are suitable, these fish will breed quite easily. OB Zebra Cichlids are maternal mouthbrooders. Even then, fatalities due to fighting are not uncommon. Most people who keep mbunas successfully long term overstock their tanks to ensure the often intense aggression is spread out among a large number of individuals. They appreciate the company of their own kind, but rival males will kill each other if there isn’t enough room for their aggression to be spread around. They are aggressive and do best in large tanks with other mbuna species. OB Zebra Cichlids are one of the more peaceful mbunas, but it certainly does not mean they can be kept in peaceful community aquariums. The occasional meaty treat such as mysis shrimp can be given, but use a lot of caution when giving mbuna any meaty food. Feed OB Zebras with commercial algae wafers, blanched vegetables, or spirulina to avoid any complications.
Otherwise, they are very prone to developing Malawi bloat which is difficult to treat and often fatal. OB Zebra Cichlids, like most mbuna, need a high amount of green matter in their diet. Otherwise, use artificial plants to add some greenery to their tanks. However, hardy plants such as Java fern, Java moss, and Anubias species can be kept successfully. Plants are most likely not a great idea as they will consume many of them, and most plants do not do well in the conditions these fish require. Otherwise, they can become susceptible to disease. Doing large, frequent water changes is necessary to keep OB Zebras happy and healthy. Albino zebras also need low levels of dissolved pollutants to remain healthy. Adding rocks such as limestone to buffer and harden the water is also a good way to keep conditions favorable for them. There are also several commercial mixes available that replicate the water chemistry of the Africa Great Lakes. Adding an airstone or heavy circulation is recommended to keep the oxygen levels in the water high. Their native water has a very high oxygen and dissolved mineral content and they need a high pH to thrive in the home aquarium. OB Zebras can also also be quite picky about water quality. They will dart in and out of the crevices, establish territories, and graze for algae if the tank is to their liking. They like a lot of rocks in the aquarium to feel secure. In captivity, they appreciate a tank that replicates their home environment. Mbuna is a Tonga word meaning “rockfish,” and like all mbuna species, zebras can be found in the wild scouring large, rock reefs for algae and other small organisms. While they are plentiful in their habitat, they are considered vulnerable because of their limited range. The OB Zebra Cichlid is an OB or “Orange Blotched” form of the Metriclima species that are native only to the reefs of Lake Malawi in Africa.
0 kommentar(er)
