Edit Oreochromis tanganicae
You can suggest changes to this profile. A moderator will review each change.
Name
Scientific name
Oreochromis tanganicae
Described by
Not recorded
Family
Cichlidae
Common names
Tanganyikan Tilapia
Photograph credits
All 1 credited
Summary
The Tanganyikan tilapia, Oreochromis tanganicae, is a large cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika, where it inhabits river mouths and shorelin…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
420mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 210 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm, Minimum height 60 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 24–28°C, pH 7.5–9
Hardness
8–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Territorial
Social needs
Not recorded
Community suitability
Not recorded
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Lake Tanganyika
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Endemic to Lake Tanganyika.
Habitat
It inhabits the mouths of rivers and shorelines of the lake.
Aquarium size
210 ∗ 60 ∗ 60 cm - ~756 litres for adult fish. Juveniles can be grown on in smaller aquaria.
Maintenance
Not critical. A sandy substrate is best. Plants should not be used as they will be eaten and a large, efficient filtration system is essential as this species …
Water conditions
Temperature: 24 – 28 °C pH: 7.5-9.0 Hardness: 8-25°H
Diet
Very unfussy and will eat most foods offered. Some vegetable matter should be included in the diet.
Behaviour and compatibility
It is not particularly aggressive with anything too large to fit in its mouth but the choices are fairly limited. We suggest keeping it alone but tankmates cou…
Sexual dimorphism
Males are larger and more colourful than females. They also develop longer dorsal and anal fins as they mature.
Reproduction
Not known to have been achieved in aquaria. Maternal mouthbrooder. In nature the fish breed around sandy beaches, most likely in a similar fashion to some othe…
Notes
This large Tanganyikan species is not seen very often in the hobby. It is often seen in shoals in nature, where it appears to feed primarily on phytoplankton. …
References
References
No references