SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ophthalmotilapia Ventralis.

COMMON NAME: Blue Gold-Tip Cichlid.

ORIGIN: Africa (Endemic to lake Tanganyika).

FAMILY: Cichlidae.

SPECIES TYPE: Ophthalmotilapia.

MAXIMUM SIZE: 5 Inches.

LIFE SPAN: 10 Years.

NATURAL HABITAT: Ventralis are found in sandy substrateareas with lots of plants and loggy out croppings for hiding.

DIET: Omnivore. Ventralis will accept all kinds of freeze dried, frozen and live foods, flake and stick are also accepted with training.

TEMPERATURE:77-79 Degress.

PH: 7.5 Ph. 10dGH.Medium-hard and moderately alkaline water

MINIMUM TANK SIZE:29 gallon

TANK REGION: Mid to upper

TEMPERMENT: Mildly aggressive,Agressive during breeding.

POSSIBLE TANK MATES: Calm bottom dwelling fish such as shell dwellers, cyprichromis, buffalo heads would go nicely together . Just to name a few.

FILTRATION AND SETUP: Normal hang on back filters will work great for these fish. Sand would be a good substrate with some rocks and crevices and some Anubias or microsorium pteropus plants would be great.

COLORATION: Dimorphic. There are many different morphs of the Blue gold-tip variety. Mpimbwe,kabogo,kachese,kapembe and masaw to name a few. Males have longer Ventral fins with false egg spots on the tips. Females are shorter and no egg spots on tips.




BREEDING:Ventralis are mouth brooders . The mated pair will dig a pit in a sandy substrate , or build a ring with sand or small substrate on a rock or slate surface. There the typical mouthbrodding mateing ritual takes place. The female will hold the eggs for 25 to 35 days. Then they will be left alone,and on there own.They should be kept in pairs with a ratio of 1m/3-4f. Males should only be kept together if raised together.