Maylandia zebra Albino

Maylandia zebra Albino is a captive-bred albino colour morph of the classic Zebra Cichlid, produced through selective breeding of the leucistic gene. The body is a pale white to cream with faint ghost barring, and the characteristic pink-red eyes confirm the albino genotype. Despite the lack of pigmentation, albino fish display the same vigorous, assertive personality as wild-type zebra cichlids.

Albino morph fish can be more sensitive to light than normally pigmented fish, and benefit from a tank with some shaded areas created by rock overhangs. Females are pale cream-white. The albino morph breeds true when both parents carry the albino gene, though crosses with normally pigmented fish produce normally pigmented offspring that carry the albino gene recessively.

In the aquarium, the Albino Zebra creates striking visual contrast against dark substrates and colourful tank mates. It pairs particularly well with dark-coloured species such as Melanochromis chipokae or bright orange-red mbuna, where the pale body provides maximum contrast. Husbandry is identical to the wild-type.

Water: 24-28°C, pH 7.8-8.5, hard alkaline; avoid excessively bright lighting which may cause stress in albinos. Tank: 200L minimum; provide some shaded areas via rock overhangs; dark substrate enhances visual contrast. Feeding: Herbivore diet — spirulina and Nori; carotenoid foods add subtle warmth to the pale colouration. Breeding: Maternal mouthbrooder; breeds true if both parents are albino; standard clutch of 15-25 eggs. Compatibility: Standard mbuna aggression; works in mixed Malawi community; one male per species.