Zebra Tilapia (Tilapia buttikoferi)
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Zebra Tilapia
Zebra Tilapia
Tilapia buttikoferi
473 Litres (125 US G.)
25-40 cm (9.8-15.7")
Freshwater
6.8 - 7.0
24 -28 °C (75.2-82.4°F)
8-10 °d
1:1 M:F
10-15 years
Family
Cichlidae
This animal is available captive bred
Contents
Additional names
- Zebra Tilapia, Tiger Tilapia, Hornet Tilapia, Buttikoferi
Additional scientific names
- Chromis buttikoferi, Tilapia ansorgii, Heterotilapia buttikoferi
Origin[edit]
- Africa: Lower reaches of coastal rivers from Guinea-Bissau (Geba and Corubal Rivers) to west Liberia (St. John River).
Sexing[edit]
- Mature males have more pointed fins and will display a slight nuchal hump.
Tank compatibility[edit]
- Highly aggressive large fish. Best kept alone in a species tank, or with other large semi or aggressive fish in 379 Litres (100 US G.) or larger.
Diet[edit]
- Will accept most high quality foods including Cichlid pellets and flake as well as live/frozen foods like brine shrimp when small moving up to shrimp, earthworms and crickets as it grows. It would also benefit from vegetables in its diet including blanched lettuce and zucchini, it tends to lean towards a more vegetarian diet than meat. Feeder fish should be avoided.
Feeding regime[edit]
- Feed once or twice a day.
Environment specifics[edit]
- Requires a very spacious and well filtered matured tank as this fish is messy. Any decor must be secure to stop it from being moved or knocked over.
Behaviour[edit]
- Can be highly aggressive and territorial at times.
Identification[edit]
- A large oval-shaped fish which is black in base colour, it has 7-9 vertical cream/yellow bands running down the body. The head is dusky yellow while the caudal fin is black.
Pictures[edit]
External links[edit]
- Fishbase (Mirrors: Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination)
