Goliad, Texas 77963
Fax 361.645.2258
Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com
|
|
Goliad Farms, INC. | 8497 FM 622 Goliad, Texas 77963 |
Voice
361.645.2252 Fax 361.645.2258 Email goliadfish@goliadfarms.com |
|
Contents
Fish
Cichlids |
Metriaclima callainos 'Cobalt Zebra' 
Metriaclima callainos 'Cobalt Zebra' is a cichlid from Lake Malawi in
eastern Africa. (Click here for a general discussion of
cichlids.) This fish is also known as Pseudotropheus zebra and Cobalt Zebra.
The nomenclature of Pseudotropheus seems to be in a state of permanent uproar.
For the time being, Metriaclima seems to be the consensus proper genus name. Our strain
was acquired n 2003
from a commercial source. The top photo is a
mature male. The bottom photo is a mature female.
Size: Males often reach 15cm (6 in.). Females are somewhat smaller. Description: Both sexes have have blue bodies and fins. Sexes are very similar, but males generally sport more pointed fins, brighter and bluer coloration, more eggs spots and a more bulging forehead than females. We find them difficult to reliably sex before maturity.Environment: This fish tolerates pHs from 6.5 to 8.0 while preferring pHs at near the higher end (basic) of this range. Water hardness is not critical, but it prefers very hard water. Optimum temperature ranges from 20-30°C (68-85°F).  Geographic Range:
This fish hails from Lake Malawi in eastern Africa.
Temperament: This fish is not aggressive for a cichlid, but males can be quarrelsome among themselves. They are active fish, constantly interacting with other fish. It can be kept either in a large single species aquarium or in active community aquaria with fish with similar behavior and requirements. Feeding: Feeding is simple with the fish taking prepared foods as well as live and frozen foods. Periodic feedings of Daphnia or other live foods are helpful in color maintenance, general health and breeding. This species also requires vegetable material in its diet that can be supplied by feeding a commercial food or by providing algae, lettuce, cucumbers or fine leaved aquatic plants (Lemna, duckweed, is a good food).Spawning: This cichlid breeds like other members of its genus. It is a maternal mouth brooder. At 30°C (85°F), females carry eggs and fry for about 21 days. Broods are smaller than those of most cichlids can be as large as 30 fry for mature females. The fry are large and can eat commercial food, Daphnia, brine shrimp nauplii, etc. immediately. The adults are not significant fry eaters, so the fry can be reared with the adults. The fry will, however, usually grow faster if removed from the adults. We maintain breeding colonies of this fish consisting of one male and six to twenty females. Additional Information:
For more information about this species, click on one of the following article
names: Additional Photos:
For additional photos of this species, click on one of the following photo
locations: Page last modified December 27, 2007. |
