A much larger tank is needed for mixing Mbunas. To house one male and two to three females, a minimum sized tank of 48" long with a lot of hiding places is needed for success. It will quickly adapt to prepared foods and is readily bred if not kept with overly aggressive tank mates. Do not house with fish of the same color and shape though, as the male will look at these others as trespassers and attack them.įor the aquarists who is willing to do frequent water changes and provide appropriate tank mates, the Pseudotropheus Ice Blue is easy to care for. It is not a community tank specimen to be kept with fish other than cichlids, but it can be kept in a tank with similarly tempered Mbunas. The Pseudotropheus Ice Blue is only moderately aggressive compared to other Mbuna. These two fish have very similar physical and behavioral traits, however the Pseudotropheus Ice Blue has only been found in the southeastern arm of Lake Malawi near Makokola, while the other is from the Mbenji Islands. This cichlid is also sometimes mistaken for its very close relative, the Pseudotropheus "Red Top Zebra Mbenji", which is not yet scientifically described. Yet in the aftermath there are still three scientific names commonly used for this fish in the hobby, including Pseudotropheus greshakei, Maylandia greshakei, and Metriaclima greshakei. After much debate between the naming of this sub-genera Maylandia or Metriaclima, this species is currently considered valid as Maylandia greshakei. In more recent taxonomical revisions the Pseudotropheus genus has been split into three sub-genera with this fish being placed in the sub-genus Pseudotropheus Maylandia. This name aptly describes the environment these fish live in as opposed to being open water swimmers like the Utaka cichlids and other "haps". The name Mbuna comes from the Tonga people of Malawi and means "rockfish" or "rock-dwelling". There are 13 genera full of very active and aggressive personalities of Mbuna cichlids. This fish is zebra-type member of a group of cichlids called Mbunas. This cichlid may be found as William's Mbuna, Ice Blue Zebra Cichlid, Red Top Ice Blue Zebra, Red Top Cobalt, Ice Blue Malawi, Ice Blue Cichlid, Ice Blue Red Top Zebra, Pseudotropheus sp. It was first described by Meyer and Foerster in 1984 as Pseudotropheus greshakei and then several other common names evolved. Prior to being scientifically described they were sold as the Pseudotropheus "Red Top Ice Blue". This cichlid has been in the hobby since the early 1980's. It makes a great fish to add variety in a Mbuna cichlid Tank. It has a very appealing coloration of an ice blue body contrasted with a bright orange top fin. With each Convict being different it’s hard to make general statements, but in general you will find a male taking over the whole tank if the aquarium is too small for them so make sure you use at least a 50 gallon tank.The Pseudotropheus Ice Blue Maylandia greshakei, also known as William's Mbuna, is a pretty zebra-type cichlid from Lake Malawi, Africa. If you read the behavior overview above, you will know they are territorial at the best of times, during spawning periods the aggression gets worse. You can keep Convicts together however you should be prepared for them to breed.Īlso you should not keep breeding pairs in a community tank as you’re asking for aggression and trouble. Other South American Cichlids (Jewel and Firemouth).You should only keep them with larger species that can stand their own ground, for example: However, if you have some experience and are looking to add Convicts to a community tank then there are some rules you need to follow.įirst, you should ensure that you don’t keep them with any smaller or less aggressive fish. This is the easiest way to prevent any issues arising with other fish. If you’re a beginner then we would recommend you keep Cichlids in their own tank with no other species. Generally speaking they do not make a good choice for a community tank. However they are extremely territorial and will be very hostile and aggressive, if fish enter ‘their’ territory. If you’ve ever seen Convict Cichlids before you could be forgiven for thinking of them as having a timid temperament. Aim to feed them 2-3 times per day instead. When you’re feeding them, make sure to feed them smaller portions throughout the day instead of a single large portion this large portion can pollute the tank and destabilize the water conditions. In addition to the meat, you can feed them blanched vegetables such as:lettuce, broccoli and carrots. If you can’t find the fresh variety, then the frozen ones will suffice. In addition to their flake/pellet, you can feed them live foods such as Blood Worms, Black Worms, Daphnia and Brine Shrimp. You should ensure this pellet is produced specifically for Cichlids. As always we recommend the core of their diet should be a high quality flake or pellet.
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