Ophthalmotilapia ventralis "Red Cap"

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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