All fish / Cichlidae

Blackchin Tilapia

Sarotherodon melanotheron

Also known as blackchin tilapia, black-chinned tilapia, blackchin mouthbrooder, saltwater tilapia, 黑颚罗非鱼, 黑颊罗非鱼

A sturdy, deep-bodied cichlid with a silvery to golden body, dark blotches and a black chin and throat, most obvious in breeding males. It copes with fresh, brackish and even full marine water, so it is kept by people with large brackish set-ups and is also farmed for food.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

22 to 30 °C

pH

7 to 8.5

Smallest tank

300 litres

Keep as

A pair or small group in a large tank

Diet

Omnivore: algae, vegetable matter, pellets, flakes and small invertebrates

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Brackish

Wild range

West Africa coastal lagoons and estuaries, Senegal to Cameroon

Breeding

It is a paternal mouthbrooder: the female lays eggs and the male carries them in his mouth until the fry are free swimming. It breeds readily in captivity given space and a stable pair.

Good to know

Invasive where released, including Florida, Hawaii and parts of Asia, and possession or movement may be restricted locally. It grows large and digs, and can be territorial when breeding.