Genus Opthalmotilapia has got prolonged ventral fin, at the end of which there are fake yellow eggs. They tempt females to take them into the mouth during spawning. At the same time females suck milt released by males. Impregnation comes about in the mouth of a female. The distinctive feature of  southern forms of genus Opthalmotilapia ventralis, including the form Chaitika, is the fact that the light blue colour of  males fades into almost white when spawning.

These fish are rather active and need a longer tank so that a dominant male should not repress the others.