Featherfin

About

Found at the southern end of Lake Tanganyika, this open-water cichlid, Ophthalmotilapia ventralis, has one of the more fascinating reproductive strategies you'll encounter in the hobby. Males develop distinctive egg-shaped spots at the tips of their elongated ventral fins, which they use to lure females during spawning. When a female tries to pick up what she thinks are eggs, she receives sperm instead, fertilizing the clutch already in her mouth. The species exists in over twenty recognized color morphs distributed around the lake, and these should never be mixed in captivity since they hybridize without hesitation. In the wild, only the most dominant males hold territories, sometimes spanning several meters of substrate, while subordinate males and females congregate in loose groups. In an aquarium, one male kept with a harem of females is the standard approach, as males are seriously aggressive toward one another. This is not a fish to mix with mbuna or other boisterous cichlids. Calmer Tanganyikan species like Cyprichromis, Altolamprologus, or Julidochromis are much better neighbors. Males kept with inappropriate tankmates often fade in color and withdraw. A sandy substrate with open areas is important, and breeding in captivity is achievable for keepers willing to meet its social requirements.