Description

When we talk about Tilapia we do not refer to a single fish, we are talking dand a complete genus of fish, that they are not too common in aquariums, although some species are quite interesting. Curiously, most belong to the family of the African cichlids, which has so many species prized in acuariofilia. These species are very prolific and parents are very attentive to their young.

Morphology

Although we speak of a whole genre and some of the morphological features may change, They are elongated and laterally compressed fish. Protráctil and have a wide mouth, framed in a thick lips. Their jaws mounted conical teeth and usually incisors. The dorsal fin is elongated, covers most of his body, while its anal fin is relatively short. The flukes are rounded and relatively short.

most common species of Tilapia

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A talking about a fish that is commonly used commercially for consumption, There are few species that are used for aquarium. The most attractive and perhaps little known is the Tilapia buttikoferi, while the best known are the commercially blue tilapia, Red Tilapia and Nile tilapia (gender Oreochormis).

Tilapia buttikoferi, zebra cichlid (Chromis buttikoferi)

aquarist friend, logically you should start which may be the most interesting for an aquarium. It is a species that You need a spacious aquarium, at least one 250 liters per couple. No plants generally respected, or small fish, which end up being all part of your diet. If we want to breed this species of Tilapia in a community tank, we must provide the remaining inhabitants enough shelters, to protect their presence. Consumes all kinds of common living foods (Artemia can breed), which can be supplemented with spinach and all kinds of green salad leaves. It has an attractive black color, with vertical stripes (zebra) golden yellow color.

blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus)

The most attractive, to highlight something, is its coloring. It has a green-blue-turquoise tone metallic appearance, They are ending in an almost white shade in its ventral area. Their dorsal and caudal fins, They have a certain shade of red light.

red tilapia (Oreochromis sp)

This is a hybrid that can not be found in nature, as It is the intersection of four species of Tilapia, three African and an Israeli. These crossings have a purely trade mission, as it is one of the most commercialized Tilapia for consumption. They are territorial and aggressive in a natural environment or in an aquarium, where they need to mark their territory. Although most of the Tilapia fish is difficult to recognize differences between males and females, In this case it is possible that the male grows more and faster than females.

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

It is the largest varieties of Tilapia, You can measure 60 centimeters and weigh four kilos. It is also known as tilapia silver, though curiously, their fins acquire reddish. It does not have much interest to an aquarium, and is basically a fish raised for food and commercial uses.

Distribution and habitat

They are easy to find in all African rivers, some species in Syria and even Israel, where they are exploited primarily as food, because they offer a large amount of proteins. geographically Tilapia fish can be found in Africa, Central America, North America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. these species They are able to survive in freshwater and saltwater, even in conditions with little oxygen. Its natural habitats are rivers, lagoons and river estuaries, so perfectly they match with high salt waters (brackish). They also adapt to any height and climatology. They can live at sea level (estuaries) or mountain streams. They have no problem adjusting to the cold waters, so they can be found in places with water at 8 ° C, and in waters reaching 30C.

Aquarium conditions

Depending on the species, you might need a larger aquarium, although for own aquarium species, How is it la Tilapia buttikoferi, an aquarium 250 liters per couple is a good size. What if We should be demanding is in the system filtering the Aquarium, it must be very powerful, as are fish that generate a lot of waste. He must provide numerous shelters, both him, as the other inhabitants of the community aquarium. This escava fish in substrate, no mercy with no plant, stone or trunk, everything can move. Any device that is placed inside the aquarium: Heater, internal filter, airy, and so on, It must be protected so do not break. As for the quality of the water:

Diet

They are omnivorous fish, eat any living prey that is within the aquarium, so it is important not to mix with small fish, that could be part of your menu. The Basic feed the fish must contain Artemias, worms, insects, snails, and complete feeding vegetables like spinach, lettuce leaves, green peas. Not especially with food, so we can provide all kinds of frozen foods, tubifex or also as dry food, € escamasâ |

Behavior and compatibility

Tilapia It is quite territorial and aggressive, In this sense it is rather like the Oscar fish. This behavior gets worse with age. They are very active, like to swim in the intermediate zones and the bottom of the aquarium. To keep them with other fish, they can share space with other large cichlids, since small, As I mentioned throughout the whole article, They can be eaten by the Tilapia.

Reproduction

We fish Tilapia They lay their eggs on the substrate, excavated hole where spawn, others simply placed on a flat surface like a rock, or wood. But certainly more unique reproduction of Tilapia is in the genus Oreochromis, which they are oral incubators. Usually it is the female that Tilapia incubated eggs, although there are some species, how black chin tilapia, that is paternal mouthbrooding. With this special form of reproduction, Tilapia achieves a very high rate of breeding, since all their eggs remain safe from predators until they hatch. They are fish that many attentions lavished their young. The fry can be fed with Artemia nauplius.

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