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Fast
facts on Ophthalmotilapia Ventralis
Biotope:
Lake Tanganyika (Africa, Rift Valley). Lot of intralacustrine
endemism and colour morphs are present. My specimens (2M / 3F) were
from Cape Mpimbwe (Tanzania).
Tank:
Some race and/or morph could grow big and moreover all are good,
fast swimmers. A large tank is a MUST (mine has been lt 300), depth
is as important as height.
Water
chemistry:
Water temp in the range 24°-26° C; pH (as high as possible) 8.0,
nitrite / nitrate as low as possible (used to perform a 30% water
change every two weeks to handle nitrogen cycle).
Spawning:
It is said to be quite difficult (for african cichlids standards)
but I found it quite easy. Holding lasts between 3 and 4 week (see
above for temp). I've been used to sometimes "strip"
carrying females and sometimes not. Newborns were, in my tank, low
in number (maximum being nine, average four). Growth rate is fast,
mostly in "grow-up" tanks. Got about 50 fry (from 2
females out of 3) in just less than two years.
Food:
Pellets, flakes, frozen food, even if it's reported that wild-caught
specimens can be fussy at eating. Newly hatched brine shrimps are
excellent food for fry.
Tank
Mates:
Good tank mates are Shelldwellers and Cyprichromis (judging from my
personal experience). Beware of bully fishes that could possibly
attack the long ventral finnage of active males. |
