Featherfin cichlid
Ophthalmotilapia ventralis
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
- pH
- 7.8–9.0
- Adult size
- 5.9 in (15 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 61 gal (230 L)
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Origin
- Lake Tanganyika
- Family
- Cichlidae
Overview
This is a territorial cichlid, especially at breeding time, so give it a big tank of around 230 liters or more with open sand for nest building. Keep one male with several females to spread out his attention. In the wild they graze on small invertebrates and plankton, so feed quality cichlid pellets plus frozen brine shrimp and daphnia. Choose tankmates carefully, since males defend their nests hard.
In the wild
Featherfins live along the rocky shores of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa, over sandy patches between rocks at depths of roughly 5 to 30 meters. Males clear sand and build nests there. The lake water is hard and very alkaline. Match it with a sand bottom, scattered rock, hard water from pH 7.8 to 9, and warm temperatures in the mid 20s C. Stable water chemistry matters with Tanganyikans.
Good to know
Ophthalmotilapia ventralis is a cichlid in the family Cichlidae, reaching about 15 cm. It shows strong sexual dimorphism. Breeding males turn bright with long, flowing ventral fins tipped with yellow tabs, while females stay plain. It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The species is not considered endangered, though local populations can be affected by habitat change and collection.
Did you know
The yellow tips on a male's long ventral fins are egg dummies. During spawning the female tries to gather these fake eggs into her mouth, and as she does the male releases sperm, fertilizing the real eggs she is already holding. It is a clever trick that keeps fertilization tight even in open water.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large freshwater selection from a longtime Portland fish store
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Featherfin cichlid?
Track water tests, reminders and stocking fit.
Related species
Nasuta featherfin
Ophthalmotilapia nasuta7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Bumblebee cichlid
Pseudotropheus crabro5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Convict Cichlid
Amatitlania nigrofasciata5.9 in (15 cm)25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Salvin's Cichlid
Cichlasoma salvini5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Zebra mbuna
Metriaclima zebra5.9 in (15 cm)55 gal (210 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Blunthead cichlid
Tropheus moorii5.5 in (14 cm)92 gal (350 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)