All fish / Cichlidae

Blue Featherfin Cichlid

Ophthalmotilapia ventralis

Also known as featherfin, blue featherfin, ventralis, ophthalmotilapia ventralis, featherfin cichlid, ventralis cichlid, blue ventralis, オフタルモティラピア・ベントラリス, 蓝凤凰, 蓝翅鳍鲷

Males of this Lake Tanganyika cichlid are a shining blue to blue-black, and their pelvic fins grow into very long threads with yellow tips. Females are much drabber. Fishkeepers like them for the striking males and the courtship displays they put on over sand and rocks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

13 cm

Temperature

24 to 27 °C

pH

7.8 to 9

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

One male with 3 or more females

Diet

Omnivore: small crustaceans, quality cichlid pellets, frozen mysis and cyclops, some plant matter

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 10 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania, DR Congo, Zambia)

Breeding

It is a maternal mouthbrooder. The male makes a sand nest, and the female picks up the eggs and fertilises them by mouthing the yellow tips on his pelvic fins. Breeding in a large, well kept tank is fairly easy, and the female holds the brood for about three weeks.

Good to know

Males are territorial and fight with other males, so keep only one unless the tank is very large. It needs hard, alkaline water and stable conditions, and it suffers if overfed with rich foods. Several regional colour forms are sold, so avoid mixing them if you want pure lines.