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Metriaclima estherae is found in a rocky environment along the eastern coast of the lake between Metangula and Meluluca, near Chilucha Reef, near Minos Reef, near Nkhungu Reef and near Gome. The males of this species have a beautiful blue color while the females are colored from beige to brown, the O-females have a beautiful orange colour. The white-pink colored males are very rare in the lake and they can only be found at Minos Reef. You can`t find the orange-red males (the types which we buy in our shops) in the lake, because it`s a breeding type, which evolved from these white-pink O-males. The MC/OB-variant shown here isn't living in Lake Malawi. This is a variant gained by selective breeding of the original OB-variant which can be found in the lake. In the lake the males of these species can grow to 10 cm, in the aquarium however they can grow taller because of a good feeding. The males can then grow to about 13 cm, females grow to about 10 cm. Metriaclima estherae can behave intolerant against equal species, against other inhabitants they are in general tolerant. You can best keep this species with multiple females and other mbuna in an aquarium with a lot of hiding places. In the lake they are mainly feeding themselves with algae, invertebrates and plankton. In the aquarium they are comfortable with any food. They take everything they get offered, like spirulina pellets, mysis, artemia, cyclops and shrimp-peas mix. Food rich of algae like spirulina pellets or flakes is very important to them so this should not be missing on their menu. 
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