Maylandia greshakei / Red Top Ice Blue Zebra 2.5inch

The Pseudotropheus Ice Blue Maylandia greshakei, also known as William's Mbuna, is a pretty zebra-type cichlid from Lake Malawi, Africa. It has a very appealing coloration of an ice blue body contrasted with a bright orange top fin. It makes a great fish to add variety in a Mbuna cichlid Tank.

The Pseudotropheus Ice Blue is only moderately aggressive compared to other Mbuna. It is not a community tank specimen to be kept with fish other than cichlids, but it can be kept in a tank with similarly tempered Mbunas. Do not house with fish of the same colour and shape though, as the male will look at these others as trespassers and attack them.  

The males are more colourful than the females. Males have an overall ice blue colour with very faded vertical bars on the body. The dorsal fin and the top half of the tail fin are orange and there are several egg spots on their anal fin. This colouring makes them easy to identify. Females are a drab colour of brown-gray, with slightly more obvious vertical bars. Sometimes the females can be a pink colouring with a hint of the blue on their sides. 

All cichlids share a common feature that some saltwater fish such as wrasses and parrotfish have and that is a well-developed pharyngeal set of teeth that are in the throat, along with their regular teeth. Cichlids have spiny rays in the back parts of the anal, dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins to help discourage predators. The front part   of these fins are soft and perfect for precise positions and effortless movements in the water as opposed to fast swimming.

What We Like About This Fish:

• Very uncommon in the aquarium hobby
• Small to medium size for a cichlid
• Possible to breed in the aquarium
• Compatible with other species in a spacious tank
• Potential to be a "centrepiece" fish

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

• Temperature:  73.4° - 81° F (23° - 27° C)
• pH:  7.5 - 9.0
• KH:  8 - 25 dKH
• Minimum tank size:  40 gallons for an adult pair

CARE GUIDELINES:

• Diet:  Carnivorous. A variety of high-quality dry, frozen, and live meaty foods is necessary for optimal health and coloration.
• Social behaviour:  Loosely social until sexual maturity. Breeding pairs are often aggressive to all other fish.