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Edit Sarotherodon melanotheron

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Name

Scientific name

Sarotherodon melanotheron

Described by

Authority Rüppell, Year 1852

Family

Cichlidae

Common names

Black Chin Tilapia

Photograph credits

All 2 credited

Summary

The black chin tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron melanotheron, is a salt-tolerant cichlid from coastal western Africa. Its main habitat is…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

200mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 38 cm, Minimum height 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 23–28°C, pH 7–8

Hardness

9–19dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Predatory

Social needs

Not recorded

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Senegal

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Widespread in coastal regions throughout Western Africa, being found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Togo, Democratic Republic of …

Habitat

A salt-tolerant species whose main habitat is estuarine waters, especially in areas of mangrove. It is also found in fresh water lagoons and rivers.

Aquarium size

120 ∗ 38 ∗ 30 cm - ~137 litres.

Maintenance

Not critical. A sandy substrate is preferable but decor is basically down to personal choice. This could include smooth rocks, pieces of driftwood and robust p…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 28 °C pH: 7.0-8.0 Hardness: 9-19°H

Diet

Feed a varied diet of dried, live and frozen foods. Ensure the fish receive some vegetable matter in the diet, such as spirulina flake, nori etc.

Behaviour and compatibility

Not particularly aggressive, unless spawning and can be kept with similarly robust African cichlids or more docile Central American species, Loricariids, Synod…

Sexual dimorphism

Not at all easy to sex. Male fish tend to have more black around the head area and when mature have a god-coloured operculum, which is transparent in females.

Where does this come from?

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Reproduction

Possible. Paternal mouth-brooder. The fish are tolerant of a wide range of water conditions and are not choosy about tank decor, although a substrate of sand o…

Notes

At present there are 5 sub-species, Sarotherodon melanotheron melanotheron, S. m. heudelotii, S. m. leonensis, S. m. nigripinnis and S. m. paludinosus. Confusi…

References

References

No references