Common Name: Featherfin Cichlid
Scientific Name: Cyathopharynx foai ‘Sibwesa’
Other Names: Sibwesa Featherfin Cichlid
The Featherfin Cichlid is a striking sand-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, known for its elongated fins and vibrant coloration. Males develop iridescent shades of blue, green, and red, with long, flowing dorsal and caudal fin extensions, making them one of the most visually captivating Tanganyikan cichlids. This species is highly social and exhibits fascinating breeding behaviors, where males construct elaborate sand bowers to attract females.
Habitat and Distribution:
Native to the Sibwesa region of Lake Tanganyika, this species inhabits sandy-bottomed areas at depths of 10-30 meters. They prefer open spaces with soft sand, where males dig large craters to serve as breeding sites. The water in these habitats is highly oxygenated, alkaline, and crystal-clear, allowing for the full display of their vibrant colors.
Size and Lifespan:
Males can grow up to 7 inches (18 cm), while females remain smaller at around 4-5 inches (10-13 cm). With proper care, they can live 8-12 years.
Diet and Behavior:
The Featherfin Cichlid is an omnivore with a preference for small planktonic organisms and invertebrates. Their diet should consist of high-quality cichlid pellets or flakes, frozen or live foods such as brine shrimp, cyclops, and daphnia, and occasional plant-based foods like spirulina flakes. They are peaceful but territorial, especially males, who spend much of their time defending their sand bowers and courting females. They are best kept in groups to establish a natural social hierarchy.
Breeding and Reproduction:
This species is a maternal mouthbrooder, with males constructing large sand mounds to attract females for spawning. To encourage breeding, provide a deep sand substrate for natural bower construction, maintain a ratio of one male to at least three females, and ensure stable water parameters. After spawning, the female carries fertilized eggs in her mouth for 21-28 days before releasing free-swimming fry, which can be fed baby brine shrimp and finely crushed flakes.
Aquarium Care and Tank Requirements:
A minimum of 75 gallons is required for a small group, but a 125+ gallon tank is recommended for multiple males. Their ideal tank setup includes a fine sand substrate for males to build spawning pits, open swimming areas with minimal rock structures, strong filtration to maintain water clarity, moderate to strong water movement, and bright lighting to enhance their natural coloration.
Ideal Tank Mates:
The Featherfin Cichlid is best kept with other peaceful to semi-aggressive Tanganyikan species. Suitable tank mates include Cyprichromis species, Paracyprichromis species, peaceful Altolamprologus species, and small Neolamprologusspecies. Avoid aggressive rock-dwelling cichlids that may disturb their sand bowers or outcompete them for food.
Difficulty Level:
Intermediate to Advanced. They require stable water conditions, a sandy substrate, and careful tankmate selection to thrive.
Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 75-82°F (24-28°C)
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pH: 8.0-9.0
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General Hardness (GH): 10-20 dGH
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Carbonate Hardness (KH): 10-15 dKH
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Ammonia: 0 ppm
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Nitrite: 0 ppm
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Nitrate: <20 ppm (regular water changes required)
Additional Information:
- Males are highly territorial over their sand bowers and continuously reshape them.
- Their extended fin filaments can be damaged by aggressive tank mates, so care should be taken when choosing companions.
- They thrive in groups where males can exhibit natural courtship displays without excessive aggression toward a single female.
The Featherfin Cichlid is an excellent species for aquarists looking to observe fascinating breeding behaviors and vibrant coloration in a Tanganyikan biotope. With proper care, they will display their full range of dynamic social interactions.
