Pseudotropheus zebra is a fish with a beautiful, bright color, but an aggressive, cocky character. The zebra is one of the most popular Malawian cichlids of the Mbuna group.
An aquarium with Malawian cichlids is usually designed in a rocky style, imitating the natural habitats of these fish. And they live among underwater rocks in the shallow waters of Lake Malawi.
Feeding zebra pseudotropheus
Feeding zebras is not difficult: the diet should consist of 70% plant food and only 30% animal food. Scalded and finely chopped leaves of nettle, plantain, lettuce, spinach, dandelion, rolled oats, small pellets of black bread (as an additive) or dry food based on spirulina are suitable as plant foods. Foods of animal origin that work well include: coretra, cyclops, small pieces of seafood, and beef liver. Pseudotropheus are big gluttons and therefore prone to obesity; to avoid health problems, leave them without food for one day.
Sexual differences in zebra pseudotropheus
Pseudotropheus reach sexual maturity at 12 months, but reach peak color and productivity at one and a half years. Males are larger (about 15 cm), more lobed than females, the dorsal fin is pointed, and the anal fin has yellow spots with a black border. Males very actively pursue females, so it is advisable to equip the aquarium with several shelters in which the pursued fish can hide.
These fish can also reproduce in a community aquarium. The female incubates the eggs in her mouth for three weeks, after which she releases fully formed fry into the wild, capable of feeding on their own, for example, small zooplankton. The fry will have a grayish-brown color until 6-7 months, then the males will become striped and the females will become spotted. Only red zebra fry are brightly colored from a young age, with females being orange-red and males dark gray and turning blue only at maturity.
Pseudotropheus zebras are territorial fish and zealously guard the chosen area, often driving away larger fish. They have very sharp grater teeth that allow them to scrape algal growth from rocks. These zebra teeth can easily be used in civil strife with other fish.
Pseudotropheus zebra cobalt
Types of zebra pseudotropheus
There are several color variations of zebra pseudotropheus. In Russia, the most common color forms are: striped on a blue background, blue, red-blue, red and speckled. The most popular among zebras are blue-blue with dark transverse stripes. There are 7 to 9 stripes on the body.
Pseudotropheus zebra albino red
The lifespan of these cichlids under optimal conditions is about 6 years.
Video: pseudotropheus zebra.
In this article we would like to introduce you to the interesting Malawian fish Pseudotropheus zebra.
You will learn what is necessary to keep her, what food she prefers, and also how to decorate the aquarium to emphasize her beauty and create comfort for her.
General description and difference between a male and a female
Zebra is a fish that lives in Lake Malawi (East Africa). It is classified as a member of the cichlid family. It is of medium size - its body length reaches from 10 to 15 cm. It is elongated and somewhat flattened on the sides. Representatives of the pseudotropheus zebra species have a large head and large eyes. The mouth is terminal, with plump lips. The dorsal fin is long. 
Pseudotropheus (male blue - female yellow)
By nature, these cichlids are aggressive. They need their territory and zealously ensure that no one else encroaches on it. There are also frequent skirmishes between males in the struggle for leadership and territorial territory, usually between stones. Therefore, the aquarium should be populated in such a way that for one male there are several females. The recommended number of fish in a school is from 6 to 8.
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These fish have well-developed sexual dimorphism - males and females can be distinguished by body color. In females it is brownish, with dark longitudinal stripes, or orange. For men - from light blue to dark blue, also with vertical stripes. In males who have reached puberty, a fat pad grows on the forehead. In the aquarium, pseudotropheus live in the middle and lower layers. They live on average up to 5 years. 
Kinds
In nature, you can find about 50 varieties of zebra pseudotropheus, which mainly differ in color. There are 4 most popular among aquarists: red, blue, yellow-orange, white.
Red
This species has strong color differences between females and males. Females are orange-red, males are blue. Their anal fins have yellow spots edged with black. There are from 7 to 9 stripes on the body. Body length reaches 10 cm.
There is also a double red zebra, where both the male and female have red bodies. Despite the fact that red is considered an aggressive color, in these fish, on the contrary, red individuals are the friendliest among their relatives. 
Blue
This is the most common species in the aquarium hobby. It is also known as Malawi Blue. Representatives of the blue variety usually grow up to 12 cm in length. Their color is very bright - blue with dark longitudinal stripes. With age, males become more faded. 
Yellow-orange
Representatives of this variety look very impressive due to their bright yellow-orange color. Males have dark spots with a black edge on the anal fin. These fish grow up to 12 cm.
A rare species with an original appearance - a white body with a slight blue and red eyes. Both males and females are colored the same. The albino form is not found in the wild; it is bred artificially. Reaches a length of 12 cm. 
Necessary conditions for keeping
The behavioral characteristics of these fish, in particular their territorial nature, dictate special living conditions - a spacious dwelling with a sufficient number of shelters and certain water parameters.
Aquarium dimensions
The minimum aquarium size for these cichlids should be 150 liters. This volume is enough for one flock to live. It is better if it is rectangular in shape, with a length of 1.2 m. It is desirable that the length of the container significantly exceeds its width.
Water parameters
In order for the fish in the aquarium to feel comfortable and live for the maximum possible number of years, they must be kept in water with the following parameters:
- hardness - 4-20 °;
- pH - 7.2-8.5;
- temperature - 24–28 °C.
It is advisable to install aeration. A powerful filter is required. Water changes should be done weekly at 30% of the total volume. Clean and oxygen-rich water is the key to the well-being of fish. Important! Before adding fresh water to the aquarium, it must be left for at least 2 days. The temperature of the fresh water should be the same as that already in the container.
Lighting
For pseudotropheus, the installation of combined lighting is required - using incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps.
Plants
There should be a lot of vegetation in an aquarium with pseudotropheus. You should choose plants with large roots and hard leaves, otherwise the herbivorous pseudotropheus will eat them. Ferns can be attached to rocks. 
Scenery
It is necessary to decorate the fish’s home so that its atmosphere resembles the natural living conditions of pseudotropheus - rocky bottom, rocks, underwater gorges. You should place a lot of stones in the aquarium, which can even protrude from the water, imitating rocks, grottoes and caves, fragments of ceramic pipes, and driftwood. Cyclidids need a lot of decorations that they could use as shelters and with the help of which they would limit their territory.
What to feed
Pseudotropheus zebra in the wild feeds on algae and occasionally plankton. Therefore, in the aquarium you should provide him with a diet that consists of 60–70% plant food - lettuce, cabbage, nettles, sweet peppers, and 30–40% animal food - daphnia, coretra, cyclops. The more recent ingredients are on the zebra’s menu, the brighter the color of its body will be. You need to give the fish black bread too. 
These aquarium inhabitants can also consume dry and frozen food, for example Neon Malawi Mix, Neon Vegetable Diet, Neon Wolfia, TetraPhyll, Tetra Rubin, Sera Spirulina Tabs, Sera Granu Green, Sera Flora and others. The main guarantee of proper feeding of zebra pseudotropheus and, accordingly, their health is varied and moderate food. You should not overfeed them - this is fraught with the development of digestive problems, in particular obesity.
Important! Bloodworms and tubifex should be given to fish with caution. It is not uncommon for aquarium inhabitants to die after eating too much of this food.
Compatibility with other fish
To distribute the aggression of pseudotropheus, experienced aquarists advise keeping them in densely populated aquariums. These can be species or mixed aquariums. At the same time, the neighborhood should be selected very carefully, even for the most peaceful red individuals. Peace-loving, calm fish will suffer with such neighbors. The main recommendation is joint content with. It is better if the fish are different in size and have different colors from pseudotropheus. 
Reproduction
These fish form pairs only during spawning. They reach sexual maturity at 8–12 months. It is not necessary to place pseudobropheus in the spawning area for reproduction. They can feel quite comfortable in a general aquarium, which should simply be equipped with drainage tubes with large holes. They are placed on the bottom so that they are clearly visible from different angles.
During one spawning, one female is capable of laying from 40 to 100 eggs 4 mm in diameter. The incubation process occurs in these individuals in a special way - the female carries the eggs in her mouth. Gestation duration is from 17 to 21 days. After the fry hatch, they will need to be fed small plankton. The fry have a uniform color - gray-brown; they become bright when they reach 6–7 months of age.
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So, the main thing you need to know when populating an aquarium with zebra pseudotropheus is that these are aggressive fish that can only get along with a very small number of other species. To reduce the degree of aggression towards other fish and towards males towards males of their own species, you should keep a flock using the harem method - 1 male and 5-7 females. Pseudotropheus are unpretentious in care. The main thing is to provide them with clean, oxygenated water, a variety of plant foods and animal complementary foods.
Video: pseudotropheus zebra - maintenance and care
There are a large number of amazing sea creatures in the world. Some of them are so unique that they are difficult to describe in ordinary words. Among them is the lionfish, or pseudotropheus zebra. She is distinguished by her incredible appearance, aggressive behavior, and sharp needles on her body that contain toxic substances. Today the fish is of particular interest to ichthyologists and aquarists.
Lionfish, or pseudotropheus zebra - a fish with an aggressive character and poisonous spines on its body general information
Many people dream of having a large aquarium with a wide variety of exotic creatures. After all, watching the peaceful life of amazing fish is so interesting that few people are ready to give up such pleasure. The presence of a tank with such creatures in the house brings a feeling of peace and tranquility to the interior.
Beginning aquarists are initially guided only by aesthetic characteristics, which often leads to disappointment, because animals cannot withstand new conditions and die en masse. Certain types of sea creatures require complex care and increased attention, so they often do not get along in an enclosed space and do not feel well. To avoid such consequences, it is enough to study in advance the intricacies of keeping aquarium fish, and also choose the most stable species.
To avoid serious mistakes in the aquarium business, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the intended pets
Before choosing fish, you need to pay attention to several important points:
- How much time will be devoted to the aquarium?
- What is the optimal size of fish?
- What color suits you?
- Aren't sea creatures too aggressive?
Once you answer these questions, you can start purchasing the right type. And in this case, it makes sense to consider the option of an aquarium zebra.
Description of zebra pseudotropheus
Pseudotropheus zebra is a real decoration for a home aquarium, which has practically no competitors. Based on the name, we can highlight a number of similarities between the tiny fish and its huge black and white namesake. And the main one is the presence of characteristic stripes across the body.
In natural conditions, you can find a lot of varieties of zebra fish with different body colors and other external differences. However, for aquarium keeping it is customary to choose a blue or red species.
In any case, the coloring of these creatures is incredibly interesting and amazing, so regardless of the chosen color scheme, the fish will look very beautiful. By the way, body color can change depending on gender and age. It is also affected by the creature's current behavior.
For aquarium keeping, it is customary to choose blue or red zebra fish. Males are bright blue or deep blue, and adult males have a characteristic fat pad in the forehead area. The age of the male is also emphasized by its bright blue color, which fades and loses saturation as it matures. Female zebras are pale yellow in color and may have spots on their fins.
Main characteristics
Among the many sea creatures that are suitable for aquarium keeping, the lionfish is considered the most interesting. Despite its name, the animal cannot fly, but it boasts amazing beauty and a specific way of life.
Other fish names include:
- Zebra aquarium;
- Lion fish.
Despite its name, the lionfish cannot fly Such an interesting name is explained by large large fins reminiscent of a lion's mane. There are also numerous stripes along the body of the lionfish, which give it a special gracefulness. The creature belongs to the order of scorpionfish of the cichlid family (the “mbuna” group of Malawian cichlids).
In the wild, the size of the fish reaches 30 cm and weight - 1 kg. The incredible appearance is emphasized by wide stripes, an elongated body shape, large eyes and head. The fish also has rather thick lips and a terminal mouth. The range of colors is very extensive. Today, ichthyologists count more than 50 color options for lion fish. The most popular options include the following:
- Blue - The blue zebra cichlid is considered an excellent find for aquarists.
- White.
- Red zebra - the fish looks simply amazing, which deserves special respect from ichthyologists.
- Orange-red.
- Yellow-orange.
A distinctive feature of the species is the ability to change color depending on its mood. A distinctive feature of the species is the ability to change color depending on the mood and age of the individuals. Being a predatory fish, the cichlid is capable of eating fry with sizes up to 2/3 of the length of its own body. Noticing the prey, it rushes at it and attacks with sharp needle-feathers, which are located in the dorsal and pectoral fins. After such a collision, the prey begins to experience incredible pain and a serious deterioration in its general condition. Soon paralysis of the respiratory and skeletal muscles occurs.
Aquarium zebra fish can grow up to 15 cm in length. At the same time, for the full development of the creature, it is necessary to use aquariums with a capacity of 150 liters or more.
Habitat
Under natural conditions, the species pseudotropheus zebra is found in the African Lake Malawi, as well as in some areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. These include coastal areas:
- Japan.
- China.
- Australia.
Recently, fishermen have reported the appearance of lionfish colonies in the Caribbean Sea and on the islands of Tahiti. When choosing habitats, the fish prefers rocky terrain and scree.
Due to its excellent meat with a nutritious composition and delicate taste, it began to be caught en masse in various ways. Today the fish is considered a favorite object of commercial underwater hunting. As a ferocious predator, the lionfish can cause serious damage to the Caribbean ecosystem, destroying many coral fish species.
For owners of home aquariums, the zebra fish is a valuable find, which is explained by its amazing appearance and lack of difficulties in maintenance. All that is required from the aquarist is to follow the basic rules of caring for the fish, changing food and water on time.
Representatives of the species prefer lower and middle water horizons. The behavior of males is emphasized by particular aggressiveness and pronounced territoriality. There is a hierarchy between individuals. In order for males to coexist freely in the same tank with other cichlids, at least 3 females are needed per individual. You also need to take care of the availability of all kinds of shelters and snags, because fish like to ambush them.
To ensure maximum comfort, the aquarium should be equipped with a rocky landscape and large stones placed on the bottom. Their size should correspond to the height of the water surface, and the upper part of the artificial rocks should be covered with algae, have crevices and underwater caves.
Representatives of the species prefer the lower and middle water horizons Also you should take care of algae, which the fish will eat. They use any living vegetation with strong roots and elastic leaves. Ferns can be planted along the stones.
Comfortable temperature conditions vary in the range of 21−28 degrees Celsius. Water should be changed regularly once a day. The optimal pH level is 8−0−9.0. Any remaining food and organic waste must be removed promptly, otherwise there is a risk of ammonia decomposition during nitrification in alkaline water. If you provide your pets with proper care, their life expectancy will reach 5-10 years.
Features of reproduction
When kept in an aquarium, the fish Pseudotropheus zebra blue becomes sexually mature at the age of one year. During the spawning period, one female lays from 40 to 100 eggs measuring 4 mm. The reproductive product is kept in the fish’s mouth for 2-3 weeks, after which it releases it out. By this time, the fry is fully formed and is already able to independently consume small zooplankton as food.
When kept in an aquarium, the fish Pseudotropheus zebra blue becomes sexually mature at the age of one year Up to six to seven months of age, young animals have a grayish-brown color. Then it begins to change and acquire distinctive features. Females receive characteristic stripes, while males develop spotting.
It should be noted that from the first days of life, the fry are distinguished by a bright body with various shades, and as individuals grow older they become blue. If both adult and young fish live in the aquarium, they create a unique composition of colors.
Proper nutrition
In order for the growth and development of the pseudotropheus colony to be complete, the fish need to be provided with proper nutrition with a balanced diet. Animals do not have any special requirements for food, so they freely eat a wide variety of foods. In this case, aquarists recommend dividing the diet as follows:
- 30% of the total feed is animal feed.
- The remaining 70% comes from plant foods.
Lionfish are one of the most unpretentious sea creatures that do not require complex care. However, when feeding pets, it is recommended to place special emphasis on food of plant origin, as well as dried and frozen food, which is sold in specialized stores. From time to time, the diet can be diluted with live food and meat products, including earthworms.
Lionfish are one of the most unpretentious sea creatures that do not require complex care Also, the red zebra eats algal fouling with particular passion. Due to this feature, the cost of purchasing ready-made mixtures will be significantly reduced. Experienced aquarists advise feeding the fish in small portions, but with high frequency. This will prevent water contamination while keeping the animals fully fed.
It is important to add vitamins and animal foods to your diet. However, it is better to be careful with protein foods, because the fish does not have a feeling of satiety, so it often suffers from bloating.
Before purchasing a lionfish, you should make sure that they will be provided with the required care and attention, including a balanced diet, which is a fundamental rule and the key to successful keeping of aquarium fish.
Cohabitation
As you know, pseudotropheus cannot boast of a friendly character, so living together with other species rarely ends well. If you want to breed various creatures in your aquarium, it is important to adhere to several rules and recommendations.
Cohabitation of zebras with other species rarely ends well, so it is better to keep them separately First, you need to remember that in one group there should be a male and several females, preferably 2-3 individuals. In this case, the innate level of aggressive behavior will be significantly reduced.
If you want to populate a container with different fish, it is better to give preference to African species with a less pugnacious character. It would be very good if these were inhabitants of Lake Malawi with different sizes and colors. Otherwise, zebras will begin to show territoriality and will conflict with their neighbors.
If you want to expand your aquarium colony, then to do this you need to take several measures and provide the creatures with the proper conditions. Puberty of the species ends at the age of 8-12 months, after which individuals begin to show special interest in the opposite sex, courting females.
During the spawning period, they need a calm, relaxed atmosphere There are times when an aquarist waits impatiently for new offspring of zebra fish to be born, but, unfortunately, this does not happen. To solve the problem, the most aggressive individual should be separated from the females, because during the spawning period they need a calm, relaxed atmosphere. A good stimulation for rapid reproduction will be increased nutrition. It is enough to try feeding your pets a little more often than usual.
Without a doubt, Pseudotropheus zebra is a real find for fans of aquarium fish. Her beauty and grace simply have no equal. At the same time, the creature does not require special care and easily takes root in every aquarium. If you understand the basic features of caring for pseudotropheus, then in a short period of time it will be possible to grow and breed an entire colony of fabulous representatives of the tropical ichthyofauna.
Zebra Cichlid(Zebra Cichlid), which is also known as Blue Malawi(Malawi Blue) or Malawian Zebra Cichlid(Malawi Zebra Cichlid), native to East Africa from Lake Malawi. This tightly built cichlid has a swollen forehead and a high caudal fin. The back of the dorsal fin and the anal fin are elongated and pointed, and at their ends there are yellow spots in the form of round eggs. Zebra cichlids come in a variety of colors, the most common being blue. They have seven or eight blue or black vertical stripes running down their entire body, and the underside of their head is often black. Scientific name Red Zebra(Red Zebra) - Pseudotropheus Zebra Red(lat. Pseudotropheus estherae), and the common name common among aquarists for all these cichlids is Pseudotropheus Zebra(lat. Pseudotropheus zebra).
Minimum aquarium size recommended for Pseudotropheus Zebra- 200l. They need fairly hard water with a pH of 8.0-9.0 and a temperature of 21-28 0 C. Adult Pseudotropheus Zebras reach 15 cm in length and live about 5-10 years in captivity.
Most plants in an aquarium Zebra Cichlids will be eradicated or destroyed, but if some of them manage to take root well, then they can develop normally, although they will be partially bitten. As you know, some aquarists manage to preserve plants quite normally in aquariums with Pseudotropheus Zebras, so you can root them well and try to grow them. In addition to plants, stones will serve as excellent decorations for an aquarium with cichlids, with the help of which it is imperative to create many caves. The fish will hide in them, escaping from other aggressive inhabitants of the aquarium. Also keep in mind that Zebra cichlids are good shrews who like to constantly dig into the ground (fine gravel or sand), moving it from place to place and digging holes.
Pseudotropheus Zebra relatively easy to care for. They are omnivores, although they prefer to eat plant matter. Give them a varied diet consisting of plant foods and dried and frozen foods. In addition, periodically give them meat products and live food, such as earthworms.
Compatibility of Pseudotropheus Zebra - behavior.
Choice of roommates Pseudotropheus Zebra must be carried out with great care and consist of other fish species living in Lake Malawi. Species aquariums are best suited for them. It is also believed that the Zebra cichlid gets along well with the handsome Chromis (Hemichromis bimaculatus), living in Africa (rivers: Nile, Niger, Zaire). But remember that Chromis Beauties, also called Pearl Cichlids, can become very aggressive, so if you notice any aggression coming from them, remove them from the aquarium. For each male Pseudotropheus Zebra, several females must be placed in the aquarium. Males establish and defend the boundaries of their territories, while females tend to live in flocks.
Pseudotropheus Zebra - reproduction.
Best breeding results Pseudotropheus Zebra are achieved if there are 3 females for each male in the aquarium. Usually the male tries to persuade the female to spawn by showing himself in all his glory and vibrating. The female lays eggs (about 60 eggs) on a flat stone or in a cave at the bottom of the aquarium. She then takes the unfertilized eggs into her mouth and follows the male until he releases sperm. In this case, the yellow spots in the form of eggs on the male’s anal fin play an important role, since it is believed that the female thinks of them as unfertilized eggs. She swims after them to place them in her mouth. At this point, the male releases his sperm and fertilizes the eggs in the female's mouth.
Unlike South American cichlids, after spawning, the male and female Pseudotropheus Zebra They each live their own lives, which means that only the female takes care of the eggs and fry. The eggs contain a large amount of yolk, so the fry do not appear quickly. The fry will use up their yolk sacs in about 20 days. All this time (until the fry hatch), the female carries eggs in her mouth. Newly hatched fry can be fed daphnia, brine shrimp and powdered dry flakes.
Pseudotropheus Zebra - video.
Pseudotropheus Zebra and fry - video.
Pseudotropheus Zebra - content.
Scientific name: Pseudotropheus sp.
Common name: Pseudotropheus zebra, Zebra Cichlid, Malawi Blue Cichlid or Malawi Zebra Cichlid.
Caring for Pseudotropheus Zebra: easy to medium.
Size: 15cm.
pH: 8.0-9.0.
t 0: 21-28 0 C (70-82 0 F).
Habitat: in eastern Africa in Lake Malawi.
Lifespan: 5-10 years.
Temperament/Behavior of Pseudotropheus Zebra: may become territorial towards males of their own species. Suitable for keeping with similar fish species that have similar water requirements.
Compatibility of Pseudotropheus Zebras: Compatible with other cichlids of similar size that have similar water requirements.
Family: Cichlids (Cichlidae)
Habitat:
Pseudotropheus zebra lives in Africa, in the coastal rocky area of Lake Malawi. First brought to Russia in 1973.
Dimensions:
Pseudotropheus zebra grows up to 15 cm in length.
Peculiarities:
Pseudotropheus zebra lives in the middle and lower layers of water.
The zebra pseudotropheus has a body elongated in length and slightly compressed at the sides. Large head and big eyes. Adult males have a fat pad in the forehead area. The mouth is terminal, thick lips. The dorsal fin is long. Pseudotropheus is distinguished by its amazing polymorphism. There are over 50 natural color variants, but the most common color forms are: blue form, white form, red female and red male (double red zebra), orange-red female and blue male (red zebra), yellow-orange with black brown spots.
Gender Differences:
In Russia, the most common blue striped form is: the body and fins of the male are light blue to dark blue with 7-9 transverse dark stripes. On the anal fin there are several yellow spots reminiscent of caviar with a black edging. The female is yellowish-white in color, with numerous dark brown spots scattered throughout the body and fins. The color of fish directly depends on their age and condition.
There should be several females per male. Pairs are created only during the spawning period.
To maintain zebra pseudotropheus, you need an aquarium of 150 liters or more with a landscape of stones reaching the surface of the water (with the upper part overgrown with algae), crevices and caves. You can plant plants with hard leaves and a strong root system, and strengthen ferns on stones. It is better to use a combination of lighting in the aquarium: incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps. Water parameters for optimal maintenance of pseudotropheus: water hardness 4-20°, pH 7.2-8.5, temperature 24-28°C. Aeration, powerful filtration and weekly changes of up to 30% of the water volume are desirable.
Feeding:
Pseudotropheus zebra eats plant foods (up to 60%): lettuce, cabbage, sweet red pepper, nettle, black bread; animal (40%): daphnia and cyclops (provide bright colors for fish), coretra; as well as dry and frozen food.
Breeding:
Pseudotropheus zebra reaches sexual maturity at the age of 8-12 months.
Zebra pseudotropheus spawning can take place in a community aquarium. Drainage tubes with a large hole are placed at the bottom so that they are clearly visible from any angle. The female lays 40-100 eggs with a diameter of 4 mm. For 17-21 days, the female incubates the eggs in her mouth (artificial incubation of the eggs is possible).
Starter feed:
small plankton. Up to 6-7 months, the fry have a uniform grayish-brown color.
Compatibility:
Pseudotropheus zebra is a territorial and aggressive fish; there is a hierarchy between males. It can be kept both in a species aquarium and in a general aquarium with Malawian cichlids.
In total, about 10 color varieties are known. There is an albino form that has not been observed in nature. To distinguish color variations in foreign literature, additional designations are used:
B – blue – color variant of males;
BB – black vertical stripes (Black Bars) – original form;
BB – light blue (Bright Blue) – color variant of males and females;
OB – females have orange spots (Orange Blotch) on the body;
W – white males;
RR – males and females have a red color (rare, orange and whitish colors predominate) with blue and carmine dots on the fins of the male;
RB – females are red, males are blue.
Now let's take a closer look at the color forms (they are also called morphs or variations) of Pseudotropheus zebra.
"Marmalade" or four-color zebra. Large and small spots of various shapes are scattered throughout the body. It differs from the piebald zebra in its more contrasting pattern, consisting of four colors mixed together. Males are larger, more lobed than females, reaching a length of 12 cm, females 8-10 cm. Their coloring is more modest. Juveniles are dark. The main problem with this form is the low heritability of the “marmalade” color, only 20-30%. The remaining males are similar to male striped zebras. Coloring occurs by the age of one year, which makes it difficult to select “marmalade” males and secure them with amateurs. This is one of the rarest color forms.
Brown zebra. The length of the fish is 8-10cm. The color of this form is brownish-gray. Juveniles are dark in color.
Blue zebra. Males have a cobalt blue color during non-spawning periods, and during the spawning period they seem to glow from within. The "egg" spots on the anal fin are orange. Females are pale blue in color and grow to 6-10cm in length. With inbreeding, already in the third generation, signs of degeneration are observed: the fish become smaller and become dirty blue.
Red and blue zebra. Size up to 12cm. The male is blue with a lighter back. During spawning it glows with emerald light. The anal fin has yellow-orange “caviar” spots. The female is red. The eye iris is brilliant black. Sometimes there are several dark spots on the body, common for fish that have been in close breeding for a long time. Juveniles have different colors from the first day: males are black with a blue tint, females are red.
Red-pink zebra. It reaches a length of 15 cm. The name “double red zebra” is firmly rooted among domestic aquarists. The male is pinkish-white. Bright red dots are randomly scattered throughout the body. The fins are blue. They have bright red strokes and dots, the edging of the dorsal and caudal fins is shimmering red. There are many bright orange “caviar” spots on the anal fin. The iris eye is brilliant emerald. The bright red female is smaller than her partners. The fins with red strokes and dots have a blue tint. The anal fin may have several featureless "spawn" spots. Emerald iris (this is one of the differences between a female red-pink zebra and a red-blue one). By the way, these forms interbreed with each other, and the juveniles are mostly red in color, but less intense. Juveniles are colored like females. There is a known hybrid between the red-pink zebra and Labeotropheus trewavasae, which is distinguished by a more slender body. The color is bright red with golden dots and shimmer.
Orange zebra. Length 6-10 cm. As the name suggests, the fish are orange in color. Unlike the red-pink form, male orange zebras do not change their color as adults. Their dorsal and anal fins only lengthen, and whitish-yellow “caviar” spots appear on the anal fin. Males of this color form are more forehead-shaped. The unpaired fins of females are whitish, with small orange dots and more intense white streaks. Juveniles are colored like females. With closely related breeding, the form is subject to severe degeneration.
Piebald zebra. They reach a length of 10-12 cm. Fish of both sexes are colored like a female striped zebra. Juveniles are dark. It acquires the coloration of its parents by two to four months. The heritability of the color trait is almost 100%.
Striped, or common, zebra. Males reach a length of 15 cm. The male is pale blue, almost white in the upper part of the body. The dorsal fin is also colored. On its last ray there is a row of small orange dots. The lower part of the head, throat, belly, anal and caudal fins are violet-blue. The anal fin has a row of orange-yellow “spawn” spots. The pelvic fins are long, elongated into threads. The first rays are white, the rest are dark blue, almost black. Eight to ten wide transverse stripes of the same color run along the body and head. Females are pinkish-yellow, with many brownish-black spots of varying sizes on the body and fins. The anal fin has several faint spots. Juveniles are dark. By two to three months, females begin to show piebald coloring. Males are colored by the age of one year.
Albino zebra. Length up to 12 cm. The eyes are red. Several small red dots are scattered throughout the body and unpaired fins. The coloration of females is identical to that of males. Albinos make up only 30-40% of the total number of fry.
