Species Profile | Images | Breeding Report | Similar Species
(Other members of the genus Metriaclima)
ADULT SIZE: 12 cm
WATER CONDITIONS: Moderately hard and alkaline
TEMPERATURE RANGE: 25-28 C
FOOD: Feed Metriaclima estherae a predominantly vegetarian diet
DISTRIBUTION: This species comes from Lake Malawi
AQUARIUM CARE: A moderately aggressive mbuna, that is best kept in a rocky tank with other Mbunas. It is a typical reef-dwelling plankton-feeder, that is both hardy and colourful; great for beginners. In the aquarium they will take most prepared foods. Males can be blue or pinky (see image), and females can be solid orange, or a blotchy pattern (see images below).
For more about a typical tank set-up see Setting up a Lake Malawi Cichlid Aquarium.
BREEDING: A typical maternal mouthbrooder, that breeds quite readily. Generally eggs are laid on a pre-cleaned stone, and are then gathered up and cared for in the females mouth. This is one of the easier species to spawn and maintain. If they do not breed, removing some of the more aggressive tank mates will often do the trick. Water changes also seem to stimulate breeding behaviour.
Have you bred Metriaclima estherae? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?, or examine existing Metriaclima estherae breeding reports
Other members of the genus Metriaclima
Other cichlid species
Other species from Lake Malawi
A pair of males showing typical colouration
A typical female
An 'orange-blotch' female
BREEDING: A typical maternal mouthbrooder, that breeds quite readily. Generally eggs are laid on a pre-cleaned stone, and are then gathered up and cared for in the females mouth. This is one of the easier species to spawn and maintain. If they do not breed, removing some of the more aggressive tank mates will often do the trick. Water changes also seem to stimulate breeding behaviour.
Have you bred Metriaclima estherae? Why not fill in a breeding questionaire?
Sorry no records.
When stocking an aquarium, always chose species that tolerate the same water conditions: temperature, pH, hardness and salinity. Read more about water conditions in the aquarium here
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