Zebra Obliquidens (African Cichlid)

The Zebra Obliquidens (Astatotilapia latifasciata) is a popular Lake Victoria species of African Cichlid, that is popular within the aquarium hobby due to its colorful appearance and peaceful disposition. This species is also bread heavily in the aquarium trade as it is heavily threatened in the wild and may be nearing extinction. While the females of the species are attractive in their own right, they lack the bursts of red and yellow that the males posses. It is the bursts of red and yellow on the belly of the fish with the vertical black bars over top a silver body that makes this fish very distinguishable amongst its peers.

Zebra Obliquidens are a dream species for the aquarium hobby as they are very easy to care for and can easily get along well with other fish species. They prefer neutral to moderately hard water conditions, with regular partial water changes or the presence of a high-end filtration system. It is important to provide plenty of rocky hiding places in order to provide this species with a sense of security and a place to retreat to when it feels threatened. It may become aggressive towards others if it is not provided with plenty of caves and crevices as it will feel the need to fight over what little cover is provided. Male Zebra Obliquidens typically get about 5 inches in length, with females reaching about 4 inches in length. While this species is a very suitable candidate for a community African Cichlid aquarium, they should not be kept with species that are much larger or overly aggressive species.

Zebra Obliquidens are omnivores (eating primarily the diet of an insectivore), thus they will eat a variety of foods ranging from plankton and insects to more meaty foods including: krill, mysis shrimp, daphnia, chichlid flake, cichlid pellets and other meaty (protein rich) preparations. This species is a hardy eater, that should be fed multiple times a day a diet that is rich in protein and as varied as possible, in order to provide balanced nutrition and promote a healthy immune system.

Zebra Obliquidens are prolific spawners that are easily bread within the aquarium environment. They will require a good sized aquarium of 125 gallons or greater, along with flat rocks or slate on which to lay their eggs. The females of the species will actually guard the fry for approximately 2 months after they are born, which means that the fry can be raised in the same aquarium as the parents. They should begin feeding almost immediately on baby brine shrimp or similar preparations and will grow quickly, reaching their distinctive shape and form in about a week. [credit Aquarium Domain]