Metriaclima greshakei
MEYER & FOERSTER, 1984

	Photo © Michael Persson
Metriaclima greshakei male.

Trade names and synonyms
Pseudotropheus greshakei, Pseudotropheus sp."ice blue", Pseudotropheus sp."Makokola", William's mbuna, Greshakei-zebra.

Size and appearance
This standard-sized mbuna could reach a size between 12 and 14 cm (4,5-5,5 in.). Males have ice blue body with orange-red dorsal and caudal fins. The colour of the females is more brownish-grey and the orange-red markings aren't as bright as on the males.

Food
It's a vegetarian which mainly feeds on plankton found in open waters. Territorial males are foraging in the biocover on rocks. In aquarium it's best fed with shrimp mix. As for other cichlids feeding on plankton, new-hatched brine shrimps are good as complement.

Aquarium
Should not be smaller than 300 litres (65 gal.).

Habitat
Inhabits the upper part of the rocky habitat, near open water where it feeds. Found at depths between 15 and 35 metres (50-115 ft.).

Breeding
A mouth brooder that is easy to breed, the spawning proceeds in typical mbuna manner.

General
Metriaclima greshakei is a relatively calm and peaceful mbuna kept in an aquarium. Males guard their territory mainly towards other males of the same species. It's closely related with Metriaclima mbenji, therefore they shouldn't be kept together.

Distribution
Endemic to Makokola Reef south of Boadzulu Island.