| Scientific Name: Metriaclima zebra (OB) |
| Pronunciation: m
|
| Common Name(s): OB Clown |
| Geo. Origin: All over Lake Malawi |
| Habitat: Deep Rocky Habitat |
| Diet: Herbivore |
| Gender Differences: Monomorphic |
| Breeding: Maternal Mouthbrooder |
| Temperament: Aggressive |
| Conspecific Temperament: Highly Aggressive |
| Maximum Size: 6" |
| Temperature: 78 - 82°F |
| pH: 7.8 - 8.6 |
| Water Hardness: Hard |
| Difficulty: 2 |
Images: |
OB female OB female OB female OB female |
Photo Credit: Jimi Yost |
Comments: |
Many of the populations of M. zebra have OB forms occuring along with a normal color pattern. The OB males can vary dramatically, but most usually have some remnants of their vertical bars, even if faint or broken-up. Their body exhibits an overall BLUE sheen and the dark blotches are distributed over the entire body, including the fins. Juveniles have the normal female coloration until sexually mature. OB males and females do not aquire the black botches until at least 3 months old. |