Cynotilapia zebroides Breeding Guide

Breeding Cynotilapia zebroides: sexing the blue male, harem setup, maternal mouthbrooding held about 20-30 days, fry care and morph separation.

Overview

Cynotilapia zebroides is a small rocky-shore plankton-feeder of Lake Malawi, known in the hobby as the Mini-zebra, which was split from the Cynotilapia afra complex and reaches about 8.6 cm total length. The genus name reflects its conical, dog-like teeth, which suit a fish that feeds on plankton and small organisms in open water just above the rocks, and like all members of the genus it is a polygamous maternal mouthbrooder.

Sexing

Males display the electric blue with vertical bars and, in some morphs, a yellow or white dorsal margin, while females are plainer. As with related Cynotilapia, the male carries the anal-fin egg spots involved in fertilisation, and a holding female is recognised by her distended throat.

Conditioning

Condition the group on a varied diet that reflects its plankton-feeding habit, in stable hard, alkaline water within the maintenance range. Spirulina or vegetarian flake, daphnia, cyclops and similar foods bring the females into spawning condition.

Breeding Setup

Provide a rocky tank with caves and territories, keeping the fish in a group, with one male to two females for a calmer pair or one male to four or five females for this more aggressive rock-dweller. Only one male of the species should occupy the tank.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The male establishes a territory and displays to passing females; the pair circle each other and the eggs are laid, after which the female collects them in her mouth. Fertilisation follows the typical mbuna egg-spot mechanism on the male's anal fin.

Egg & Fry Care

All Cynotilapia carry their fry for about 20 to 30 days, and the brooding female does not eat and loses condition during this time. Released fry will take finely powdered flake food and newly hatched brine shrimp while also browsing algae in a matured tank.

Common Challenges

Because this species belongs to the variable afra complex, its many morphs should be kept separate; if hybrids occur they must not be passed on, as that would eventually ruin captive bloodlines. Holding females should be left undisturbed to prevent premature release of the brood.