Edit Lates niloticus
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Name
Scientific name
Lates niloticus
Described by
Not recorded
Family
Latidae
Common names
Nile Perch
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The Nile perch, Lates niloticus, is a giant predatory fish from Central and Western Africa, reaching 193 cm and up to 200 kg. Introduced in…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
1930mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 22–28°C, pH 7–8.5
Hardness
10–30dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Predatory
Social needs
Not recorded
Community suitability
Not recorded
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, South Sudan, Lake Victoria
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Widespread throughout much of Central and Western Africa, where it inhabits all the major rivers, including the Nile, Chad, Senegal, Volta and Congo. It's nati…
Habitat
Lakes, rivers and canals. It can also withstand brackish conditions, with a population thriving in the saline Egyptian lake of Mariout.
Aquarium size
A truly enormous tank (or pond) would be required by an adult specimen. Something in the region of 20' x 6' x 10' would be considered a bare minimum. A tank li…
Maintenance
Speaking hypothetically, decor would not be critical. Obviously, an enormous filtration system would be needed to cope with the massive amounts of biological w…
Water conditions
Temperature: 22 – 28 °C pH: 7.0-8.5 Hardness: 10-30°H
Diet
Highly piscivorous in nature, juvenile captive specimens have been known to accept prawns, lancefish etc. An adult fish would need large amounts of whole fish …
Behaviour and compatibility
Peaceful with anything it can't fit into its mouth. This doesn't actually leave many species that it can be housed with in the long term though. Young specimen…
Sexual dimorphism
Unknown.
Reproduction
Surely impossible in aquaria.
Notes
This species has been introduced into many areas in Africa for commercial purposes, and it's had a hugely detrimental effect on local fish populations in some …
References
References
No references