Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese"

Remarks:  Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese" are one of the stunning featherfin cichlids found within Lake Tanganyika. These fish are known for their long, elegant ventral fins usually tipped with white or yellow in mature males. Juvenile and female fish are silver in color with mature males also being silver most of the time. However, when displaying to a female or sparring with a rival, they take on a beautiful blue and yellow hue with black accents. They show this coloration the most in the morning when they are most active. It may take some time to see this fantastic coloration as Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese" can take a while to reach maturity with most of their color not appearing until they are at least 4 inches in length. Once one sees a mature fish, it will be clear it is well worth the wait.

  Unlike some of their more boisterous relatives, Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese" are a bit more mellow for a featherfin. They can get aggressive and territorial during spawning, but it is not to the severity of other featherfins. This makes them a good choice to house alongside Altolamprologus and adult sardine cichlids such as Cyprichromis, but a poor choice for more aggressive species such as other featherfins. Aside from the aggression issue, Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese” should not be kept with other featherfins as they can hybridize which damages the genetics of captive populations. 

  Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese” appreciate having both plentiful rock piles and large areas of open space with a soft sand substrate in the aquarium. The rocks provide a place to hide as well as breaks in lines of sight to reduce aggression amongst males. The sand is for space for the males to dig pits in where they will court and spawn with females. Needing ample of both types of habitat means these fish need quite a bit of space. 90 gallons should be considered the minimum for a breeding group, but if wanting to keep these cichlids in a community setting, a larger tank will be needed. A large volume of water alongside plenty of water changes and heavy filtration will also help keep the Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese” healthy as they are sensitive to water quality. Their health further depends on a well-curated diet heavy in vegetable and algae matter as they are primarily herbivores. Protein rich foods such as brine shrimp can be offered occasionally, but this should be rare to avoid bloat. If cared for properly, those keeping the rare Cyathopharynx foai "Kachese” will be rewarded with a truly stunning fish.