{"product_id":"maison-reef-zebra-mbuna-metriaclima-fainzilberi-maison-reef","title":"Maison Reef Zebra Mbuna | Metriaclima fainzilberi \"Maison Reef\"","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Maison Reef Zebra Mbuna is a strikingly coloured Lake Malawi cichlid, with dominant males flashing electric blue bodies crossed by bold dark vertical bars. Reaching around 12-13cm, it's a hardy, confident mbuna that brings serious colour and personality to a dedicated African cichlid setup.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEndemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa, this colour form takes its name from \"Maison Reef,\" a rocky reef along the Tanzanian shoreline near Chilumba. Like other mbuna, it lives among dense rock piles in clear, oxygen-rich, alkaline water, where it grazes algae from rock surfaces within a highly territorial, rock-based community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDominant males develop a brilliant blue body overlaid with around seven dark vertical bars and a blue anal fin dotted with yellow egg-spots. Females and subordinate males are noticeably duller, showing a greyish-blue base colour with faint barring. As with most mbuna, colour intensity increases with age, dominance status, and breeding condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn assertive, territorial mbuna, particularly among males, which will fight fiercely over territory and can seriously injure or kill rivals of the same or similar species. Best kept in a species-only or all-male Malawi mbuna tank with heavy rockwork to break sightlines, or as a harem of one male to several females. Not suitable for peaceful community tanks or soft-water species.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrimarily herbivorous in the wild, grazing algae from rocks. In the aquarium, offer a vegetable-based diet such as spirulina flakes or pellets, with occasional small amounts of protein like brine shrimp or mysis. Avoid excess protein or fatty meaty foods, as this can trigger bloat in mbuna.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eNeeds a large tank with extensive rockwork arranged into caves and crevices to establish territories and diffuse aggression, plus a sandy substrate. Water should be warm, hard, and alkaline to mimic Lake Malawi conditions, with strong filtration to cope with the high bioload of a densely stocked, heavily rockscaped mbuna tank. Stable water chemistry is essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA maternal mouthbrooder. After spawning on a flat rock, the female collects the eggs in her mouth and incubates them for around three weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. Breeding occurs readily in an established mbuna colony kept at a ratio of one male to three or four females.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMetriaclima fainzilberi \"Maison Reef\"\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaison Reef Zebra Mbuna\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLake Malawi, East Africa\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13cm (males); females slightly smaller\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8-10 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAggressive\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e350L (150cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450L+ for a male with a harem of females\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore\/Omnivore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e24-27°C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.8-8.6\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10-20 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDedicated African cichlid \/ mbuna tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (freshwater species)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo (herbivorous, will graze and uproot plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther robust Lake Malawi mbuna of similar size and temperament, such as other Metriaclima, Pseudotropheus, and Labidochromis species, provided the tank is large and heavily rockscaped to spread out aggression.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful community fish, slow-moving or long-finned tankmates, soft-water South American or Asian species, and larger predatory Malawi haps that may bully or outcompete this species.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55411432784163,"sku":"AA5702-S","price":75.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55411432816931,"sku":"AA5702-M","price":85.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55411432849699,"sku":"AA5702-L","price":95.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/metriaclima-fainzilberi-maison-reef-3003609-600.jpg?v=1785804495","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/maison-reef-zebra-mbuna-metriaclima-fainzilberi-maison-reef","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}