Description
Remarks: Ophthalmotilapia ventralis “Red Cap” are a beautiful, medium-sized cichlid known to only be found on the southern end of Lake Tanganyika near Kambwimba, Tanzania. Juveniles and females are a greenish-silver but males change to a stunning sky blue with a reddish-orange patch on their foreheads once they reach adulthood. These fish are omnivorous, feeding on algae and plankton in the wild. They also appreciate having many rock piles and a large swimming space to mimic their natural habitat. Ophthalmotilapia ventralis “Red Cap” are generally peaceful and do well in a Tanganyikan community tank unless they are spawning which causes them to become very territorial. Spawning takes place in a pit the male makes in the sand that he lures a female to where they spawn and guard their young.
Scientific Name: Ophthalmotilapia ventralis
Common Name: Ophthalmotilapia ventralis “Red Cap”
Max Size: 6″
pH: 7.5-9
Hardness: Hard
Temperature: 73-81°F
Aggressiveness: Aggressive
Region of Origin: Lake Tanganyika, Africa
Captive Bred or Wild: Captive Bred F1
Diet: Frozen meats and vegetarian flake or pellet.
Compatibility: Cyprichromis, rock-dwelling and shell-dwelling Tanganyikan cichlids
Tank Mate Options:
Cyprichromis leptosoma “Kerenge”
Julidochromis ornatus
(Neolamprologus multifasciatus)
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