Appearance: Males are vibrantly colored, typically having a blue-grey body with a metallic sheen and a blackish top of the head. Ad Konings describes the species as light blue with a triangular black pattern on the lower body.
Sexual Dimorphism: Only males are colorful with significantly longer fins (especially pelvic fins); females remain a dull greyish color.
Size: Males grow to about 15 cm, while females reach approximately 12 cm.
Habitat (Biotop): They inhabit the upper part of the rocky environment, being most numerous at depths between 3 and 5 meters.
Tank Size: At least 400 liters if keeping multiple males; roughly 300 liters for a single male setup.
Environment: Fine sand is necessary on the bottom because males build "volcano-shaped" nests. Large flat rocks should also be included, as males often build their nests on top of them.
Tank Mates: They should not be kept with aggressive cichlids. They show their best colors when they are the dominant species in the tank. Avoid other Ophthalmotilapia species to prevent hybridization.
Sensitivity: This species is sensitive to transport but becomes hardy once acclimated to stable conditions.
Diet: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on algae (aufwuchs). They may also consume microorganisms found in the algae or plankton (especially females and non-territorial males).
Breeding: They are maternal mouthbrooders. Males have "egg dummies" at the ends of their pelvic fins to lure females. The male builds a sand nest (10–12 cm diameter), where spawning occurs. Females typically carry 10 to 16 eggs. It is recommended to remove the female after spawning due to male aggression.