Cobalt Blue Zebra Breeding Guide

Breeding Maylandia callainos: a rockwork harem, maternal mouthbrooding typical of mbuna, and rearing the free-swimming fry of this Lake Malawi cichlid.

Overview

Maylandia callainos, formally named Pseudotropheus callainos, is an mbuna endemic to Lake Malawi, occurring naturally at Nkhata Bay though now introduced elsewhere. It reaches about 8 cm SL. As an mbuna it is a maternal mouthbrooder that breeds readily in good conditions.

Sexing

Both sexes display the intense cobalt blue colour, so sexing is not as obvious as in dichromatic species. As with other mbuna, a dominant male maintains a territory and only allows females into it for breeding, which helps identify the male behaviourally.

Breeding Setup

Provide rockwork forming caves and territories. All Lake Malawi species thrive in the range 25-29 °C (77-84 °F) with pH 7.5-8.4 and near-zero ammonia and nitrite. Overcrowding helps spread out the aggression caused by territorial conflicts, so a group with several females per male works best.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Mbuna are maternal mouthbrooders and breed readily in good conditions. A dominant male keeps a spherical territory and only allows females in to breed; the female lays eggs, takes them into her mouth and they are fertilised. Stable, clean, warm hard water is the main trigger.

Egg & Fry Care

The female incubates the eggs and fry in her mouth for a few weeks before releasing free-swimming young. The fry are large enough to take crushed flake and brine shrimp nauplii; rearing them away from adults improves survival.